Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
Life in Miniature
Budding film director Anthony Armstrong, aged 10, presents a delightful film about things on a smaller scale like locomotives, trams and the tiny town of Bekonscot.
From the collection of:
Overview
Anthony Armstrong's imaginative film starts and ends with animated titles followed by sequences showing smaller scale versions of their larger counterparts. A bonny baby is followed by a miniature fairground with fully working models. At Romney East station we see a small gauge locomotive carrying its large passengers. Then we're gliding along on the half-sized trams of the Eastbourne Electric Tramway. The final sequence shows the famous model village of Bekonscot.
Anthony Armstrong was taught how to make films by his mother, Beryl, who is also a prolific film-maker and author in her own right. Like his mum, Anthony and his brother Richard made a great number of short documentaries, animated films and comedies. Following in his mother's footsteps, Anthony's film, 'Life in Miniature' was amongst the ten best films of 1970 in an amateur film-makers competition.
Related
Watch for free
Alice in Wonderland Alice in Wonderland
Fantasy 1903 10 mins Silent
The first-ever film version of Lewis Carroll's tale, made just 37 years after the novel’s publication and eight years after the birth of cinema.
Watch for free
A Year and a Day A Year and a Day
Amateur film 1954 14 mins Silent Location: Headingley
The metamorphosis of the eating machine which is the caterpillar, into an Emperor Moth, revealed in all its detail and presented in 15 minutes.
Watch for free
A Colour Box A Colour Box
Advert 1935 4 mins
Part experimental cinema, part advert for the parcel post service, always joyful.
Watch for free
That Noise That Noise
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1961 2 mins
Fall truly, madly, deeply in love with this animated proto-music video from Godfrey, Lacey and Newly
Watch for free
The Clown and His Donkey The Clown and His Donkey
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1910 3 mins Silent
A pioneering effort in bringing shadow puppetry to the cinema
Watch for free
X Rays X Rays
Comedy 1897 1 mins Silent
I've got you under my skin... early 'trick' film having fun with the new science of x-ray photography
Watch for free
Green Grow the Rushes Green Grow the Rushes
Comedy 1951 78 mins Location: New Romney
Brandy-smuggling locals resist government interference in this Ealing-esque comedy, filmed on Romney Marsh
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Watch for free
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Watch for free
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Watch for free
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.