Title of error

See Help

Down by the Sea

Peacehaven, near Lewes, gets the star treatment in this spiffing celebrity travelogue.

Advert 1925 8 mins Silent

Overview

Picturesque Peacehaven, near Lewes, is the co-star of this spiffing travelogue. The other lead role is taken by stage and screen star Hilda Bayley, touring the Sussex resort: an early example of celebrity endorsed promotional filmmaking. The film was produced by Pathé, possibly for its Pathé Pictorial cinemagazine series, but more likely as a stand-alone piece sponsored by an outside agency for tourist promotion purposes.

The experienced professionalism of Pathé’s technicians shows in some strikingly well-composed scenic views, the vivacious Ms Bayley often placed in the foreground. The actress is best known today for playing opposite Ivor Novello in his debut feature Carnival (1921) and for her starring role in the notorious Cocaine (1922), which is available on BFI Player.

Featuring

Hilda Bayley

Genres

Advert and Travelogue

Country

United Kingdom

Location

Peacehaven

Language

No Dialogue with English subtitles

Subjects

Seaside towns

Watch for free

New Perspectives: Tangerine New Perspectives: Tangerine

Short documentary 2025 3 mins

Harry Wallace, a student at Northumbria university, explains why Sean Baker's LA-set comedy-drama, about a transgender sex worker on the hunt for her cheating -ex, is worth your time.

Watch for free

Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode

Inside Film 2025 44 mins

Daniel Craig talks to Mark Kermode about his acting career, from his early role in Love is the Devil through to the Luca Guadagnino directed Queer.

Watch for free

New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank

Short documentary 2025 4 mins

Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.