This film is part of Free
Discoveries
This morale-boosting variety extravaganza – filled with radio personality Carroll Levis' discoveries - is like a wartime Britain's Got Talent.
Overview
Touring England in search of talent, something like a 1930s Simon Cowell, Canadian-born wireless personality Carroll Levis hosted a BBC Radio series in the pre-war years showcasing his "discoveries". This cinema spinoff includes performances by some of the young unknowns he discovered, including singers, comedians, and a couple of rather good Laurel and Hardy impersonators.
While this unashamedly patriotic variety spectacular was shot before conflict commenced, the clouds of war were visible on the horizon – and pride of place is given to a rousingly flag-waving rendition of There'll Always Be an England, sung by a well-scrubbed lad surrounded by the stoic Empire troops who stand at the ready.
Related
Five Guineas a Week Five Guineas a Week
Musical 1956 33 mins
1950s song and dance revue set in a colourful world of boarding houses and coffee bars
Devil's Rock Devil's Rock
Musical 1938 51 mins Location: Bangor
Will new open-air microphone technology give Richard Hayward the chance to silence his critics? Watch as Cushendun and Bangor steal the show.
Shooting Stars Shooting Stars
Comedy 1937 32 mins
Black music hall stars Scott and Whaley perform stereotypical minstrel routines in blackface in this 1937 touring revue.
The Rise and Fall of Nellie Brown The Rise and Fall of Nellie Brown
Musical 1964 70 mins Location: Liverpool
An incredibly joyous TV musical about a young woman's search for her long-lost cousin.
Twinkling Fingers Twinkling Fingers
Musical 1940 11 mins
Pianists Charlie Kunz and Mark Hambourg tickle the ivories for our entertainment in this jolly musical short.
Song of Toledo Song of Toledo
Musical 1953 31 mins
This merrily musical short film takes a jovial trip across picturesque 1950s Spain aboard the Talgo Express
Islington Central Methodist Church Stone Laying Ceremony Islington Central Methodist Church Stone Laying Ceremony
Amateur film 1962 3 mins Silent Location: Highbury
Formal fashions and colourful headwear adorn the attendees of a traffic-stopping parade and stone laying ceremony at the site of a new church.
Cup Final Drawing Nearer Cup Final Drawing Nearer
Non-Fiction 1922 1 mins Location: Highbury
FA Cup third round: Arsenal v Leicester City and Cardiff City v Nottingham Forest.
Alive and Kicking Alive and Kicking
Documentary 1937 8 mins Silent Location: Highbury
Arsenal footballers including Ted Drake, Eddie Hapgood and Cliff Bastin show off their skills in training for this council film to promote healthy living.
Gaumont British News No 243 Gaumont British News No 243
Non-Fiction 1936 10 mins Location: Twickenham
Society weddings, FA Cup finals and Shakespeare’s birthday all feature in this newsreel from 1936, featuring amusingly droll commentary.
Library at Work Library at Work
Documentary 1922 13 mins Silent Location: Westminster
Short film celebrating several London libraries, from the grand British Museum reading room to children’s reading hours at smaller local libraries.
Battle for Wembley Battle for Wembley
Non-Fiction 1928 1 mins Silent Location: Highbury
Heaving terraces and goalmouth action at Highbury for this FA Cup fourth round encounter between Arsenal and Everton.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
Blades Blades
Drama 2023 2 mins
A group of young Black boys run into a building. One of them is about to do the unimaginable.
We Collide We Collide
Romance 2023 2 mins
A queercore romance - a visceral and immersive exploration of the power of the mosh pit and finding love in the most unlikely of places.
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
Hen Do Hen Do
Comedy 2023 2 mins
En-route to her hen weekend, bride-to-be Faye kills the vibe with a bombshell confession.
Daytimers Daytimers
Documentary 2023 2 mins
An insight into Daytimers, the South Asian DJ collective that are breaking new ground in Britain.