The Box is a major cultural and heritage attraction and archive, which opened in Plymouth’s city centre in September 2020. Its collection, formally the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), is the regional film archive for the South West of England, comprising the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and Television South West (TSW). It also includes a significant number of donated film collections dating back to the early 1890s.
This film is part of Free
Video Player is loading.
Exotic Pet Shop
A shop owner in Truro sells unusual pets.
In partnership with:
Overview
Paul Roberts is a pet shop owner in Truro and sells some very unusual animals including Flower, an American skunk, crocodiles from the Nile and alligators from Borneo, which are kept in a pool at the back of the pet store. John Doyle puts on a brave face as he gets up close and personal with some of the shop’ s incredible beasts but where does Paul find them?
According to campaigns by the RSPCA who pick up many unwanted pets, for every exotic pet brought into the country, more than half of their cohort would have died in transit and efforts to curb the exotic pet trade are ongoing. Under the 1976 Dangerous and Wild Animals Act authorities grant licences fr animals if they are not contrary to the public interest in a Peter Sellars-type Does Your Dog bite? scenario (from the film The Pink Panther Strikes Again 1976). In the sixties and seventies exotic pet-keeping was the height of fashion and wholly unregulated. As for the reporter in the reptilian den, just don’t try this at home, and certainly not without medical or even life insurance.
Related
Watch for free
Scenes on the Cornish Riviera Scenes on the Cornish Riviera
Advert 1912 19 mins Silent Location: Plymouth
From Saltash to St Ives, a whirlwind tour of Edwardian Cornwall.
Watch for free
Compton Castle of Truro Compton Castle of Truro
News 1982 3 mins Location: Compton Castle
The old paddle steamer still has legs.
Watch for free
Burn Your Bra! Burn Your Bra!
Current affairs 1968 2 mins Location: Truro
The Women’s Liberation movement’s burn your bra campaign hits Truro.
Watch for free
Truro Carnival Week Truro Carnival Week
Current affairs 1932 4 mins Silent Location: Truro
Trurorians enjoy street carnival celebrations
Watch for free
Carlyon Farm Carlyon Farm
Current affairs 1965 6 mins Location: Truro
Clive Gunnell reports from Carlyon Farm
Watch for free
Truro to Falmouth on the Maritime Line Truro to Falmouth on the Maritime Line
Current affairs 1976 8 mins Location: Truro
Journey on the Great Scenic Railway from Truro to Falmouth
Watch for free
Afrika Bambaataa on Afrofuturism (Q&A) Afrika Bambaataa on Afrofuturism (Q&A)
Inside Film 2014 45 mins
Afrika Bambaataa and DJ, musician and filmmaker Don Letts discuss the development of Afrofuturism and its key artists.
Watch for free
Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.
Watch for free
Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.
Watch for free
Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.
Watch for free
Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.
Watch for free
Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.