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Excellent if somewhat jerky aerial shots of London taken from a helicopter and featuring close-ups of Waterloo, the docks and Tower Bridge.
Amateur film 1963 3 mins Silent
A helicopter swoops over the River Thames, allowing a camera to snatch jerky film of Waterloo – note the station, with the recently completed Shell building in the foreground – then over Docklands, probably London Dock and St Katharine Dock – and on to Tower Bridge. Also shows a large factory. This is a rush from Joan Littlewood’s film detailing London’s leisure life.
Digitisation supported by the London Topographical Society.
Non-Fiction 1910 1 mins Silent Location: Trafalgar Square
Spot the changes and continuities in this majestic Edwardian panorama of Trafalgar Square.
Amateur film 1934 4 mins Silent Location: Spitalfields
A rare glimpse inside the Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor in the East End during the early 1930s.
Documentary 1971 12 mins Location: Croydon
Do you remember when the moon men came to Croydon? You can bet these kids never forgot the day Dogg's Troupe landed
1977 13 mins Location: Hammersmith
Environmentalists wage war on the Greater London Council in this eye-opening account of a battle to save Hammersmith's open spaces.
1963 3 mins Silent
London in 1963 was a city in flux, as this spectacular aerial footage shows.
Documentary 1963 17 mins Location: City of London
Fascinating look at the Barbican – before it became the brutalist icon we know today.
Amateur film 1937 6 mins Silent Location: Westminster
The streets of Westminster and Camberwell are festooned with bunting and banners in preparation for the Coronation of George VI in this remarkable colour film from A E Ford.
Amateur film 1951 6 mins Location: Westminster
A film-noir unpacking the various self-reflexive thoughts one might fall victim to after committing the ultimate sin, with a twist ending.
Amateur film 1947 3 mins Silent Location: Westminster
Inhabit the unique perspective of an amateur filmmaker in the crowd at the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten, 1947.
Documentary 1945 2 mins Silent Location: Westminster
This nostalgic and charming window into VJ Day celebrations has its eye on all, from the soldiers and civilians to the local wildlife.
Amateur film 1948 8 mins Silent Location: Westminster
Members of the Leeds Branch of Jewish Ex-servicemen and women Association travel to London for the annual Remembrance Service.
Amateur film 1939 3 mins Silent Location: Westminster
Atmospheric film capturing the mood of the capital ahead of the war. From ARP adverts to the building of bombshelters, London prepares for war.
Comedy 1919 35 mins Silent
A protective father masquerades as an automatic doll in this bonkers interwar comedy.
1937 11 mins Silent
May Day – a significant day for the labour movement – is covered by the cameras of the Film and Photograph League.
Performance 1986 55 mins
An exploration of the life and work of the controversial British composer.
1935 9 mins
Let it bleed? This exemplary education film gets to the heart of the matter.
Non-Fiction 1935 12 mins Silent
Punchy political film capturing mass protests against unemployment.
1937 15 mins Silent
A spirited satire on the coronation of George VI made by members of the Film and Photograph League.
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