National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Lloyd George at Home: Xmas 1938 & Jan 1939
Santa Claus arriving at a house full of children on Xmas Day has not forgotten their elders - even Lloyd George gets a present! And the new year brings Chow Chow pups and snow.
From the collection of:
Overview
At Lloyd George's home in Surrey – Bron-y-de farm, Churt – young and old await the arrival of Sant Claus on Christmas Day for he brings presents for all, including the aged ex-Prime Minister himself. And the new year holds more excitement: snow (which necessitates the feeding of hay to cattle and sheep grazing the white stuff in vain in the fields) and wambling Chow Chow pups, a breed Lloyd George (but not a Siamese cat) was particularly fond of.
Lady Valerie Davidia Daniel, daughter of Lloyd George's eldest son, Richard, interviewed by NSSAW in 1997, remembered staying at Downing Street for long stretches at a time, there being nursery accommodation on the top floor for Lloyd George, an indulgent grandfather, always enjoyed children's company. He would allow them in to the Cabinet Room where, she recalled, they would jump about on the furniture, and once he hung a bunch of bananas on a tree in the garden so that it looked to the children as if such exotic fruit really did grow there for real! NB: The poor quality of the Christmas shots is owing to the use of light from a projector which has allowed only a small, square area within the frame to be exposed.
Related
Watch for free
Toys Will Be Toys Toys Will Be Toys
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1988 5 mins Location: South Shields
Barbie dolls in pink battle khaki killing machines in a Christmas animation that cocks a snook at the “Disney Doctrine”.
Watch for free
A Bronte Christmas A Bronte Christmas
Documentary 1980 14 mins Location: Haworth
Richard Whiteley joins children on the Worth Valley Railway Santa’s Special, while the Haworth Town Band sing On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at.
Watch for free
Christmas in Belfast Christmas in Belfast
Government sponsored film 1977 2 mins Location: Belfast
Christmas in Belfast at the height of 'The Troubles'. Not the most wonderful time of year.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
Morecambe and Wise - Be Wise Don't Drink and Drive Morecambe and Wise - Be Wise Don't Drink and Drive
Public Information Filler 1963 1 mins
Ernie tells Eric to ‘be wise’ and not drive home after their Christmas party
Watch for free
Santa Claus Santa Claus
Trick film 1898 1 mins Silent
These Victorian children's Christmas wishes come true in a very special early British film
Watch for free
Lloyd George: farming, officiating and breakfasting Lloyd George: farming, officiating and breakfasting
Amateur film 1936 13 mins Silent Location: Churt
Lloyd George gets about: he is the subject of a photo shoot in his Surrey orchard and officiates at a literary event and a royal visit to N. Wales.
Watch for free
Rotatiller and Caterpillar Tractor, Oct. and Nov. 1938 Rotatiller and Caterpillar Tractor, Oct. and Nov. 1938
Home movie 1938 5 mins Silent Location: Churt
David Lloyd George, ex-prime minister of Britain, hosts a demonstration of two marvellously big machines at work on his farm at Churt.
Watch for free
Lloyd George with Dogs and Book Lloyd George with Dogs and Book
Non-Fiction 1929 3 mins Silent Location: Churt
A summer's day, dogs and a book and the attention of a newsreel cameraman – what more could David Lloyd George (British prime minister 1916-22) possibly want?
Watch for free
David Lloyd George's Golden Wedding Anniversary David Lloyd George's Golden Wedding Anniversary
Amateur film 1938 14 mins Silent Location: Churt
Married in January 1888, David Lloyd George and his wife Margaret celebrate 50 years of marriage with their family at a very comfortable hotel – with golf – in Antibes.
Watch for free
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
Watch for free
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Watch for free
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.