The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Lord Mayor at Asian "Do" at St. George's Hall
Quite possibly the first Indian concert to be put on in a theatre in Bradford, with striking classical Indian dancing and musical instruments.
From the collection of:
Overview
After some rather rough home movie footage of an Indian family on a continental holiday, the film settles down to show an Indian concert being put on in the presence of the Lord Mayor at St. George's Hall Bradford in 1972. The concert, to a predominantly Indian audience, consists of Indian dancing and music – unfortunately silent – and a comic magic act.
Although this film arrived in the collection from the Bradford filmmakers C H Wood, it isn’t known who took this film as it is not of their usual professional standards. The Indian population in Bradford was, and remains, significantly smaller than the Pakistani community – in 1991 it was 1.8% of the Bradford population, less than the national average. By 1972 both communities were fairly settled, having between them 260 businesses in Bradford. It was a time of rising racial tension, fuelled by Powell’s famous speech of 1968, the 1971 Immigration Act, the arrival of expelled Ugandan Asians and the activities of the National Front. St George's Hall is the oldest concert hall still in use in the United Kingdom.
Related
The Sheep Thief The Sheep Thief
Road movie 1997 25 mins
An adolescent criminal finds redemption when he meets and helps a young mother and her family.
Skin Deep Skin Deep
Drama 2001 15 mins Location: London
A young Pakistani man tries to pass as white and hang out with a group of racist skinheads
London Me Bharat London Me Bharat
Drama 1972 20 mins Location: London
Stylishly-shot document of multicultural 1970s London among Southall's Asian community.
Shakti Shakti
Drama 1992 14 mins
An Asian woman engages her inner goddess to create a stunning oasis in a grey tower block.
Ugandan Asians at Houndstone Camp Ugandan Asians at Houndstone Camp
Current affairs 1972 7 mins Location: Yeovil
Ugandan Asian refugees face up to a sudden wintery future.
No Virginity, No Nationality No Virginity, No Nationality
Drama-documentary 1981 15 mins
Satirical docu-drama based on the shocking fact that virginity tests were carried out by the home office on Asian girls arriving from India and Pakistan between 1971-1979.
Bradford Laundry, Meat, and Coal Adverts Bradford Laundry, Meat, and Coal Adverts
Advert 2 mins Silent Location: Bradford
Meeting the everyday basic needs of the locals: keeping the family clean, warm and well fed.
Bradford Adverts Reel 1 Bradford Adverts Reel 1
Advert 1925 3 mins Silent Location: Bradford
Juno-Junipah, for girls, who “want to be bright, vivacious, attractive and slim”, and Carters Little Liver Pills to rejuvenate the elderly.
The Big Country The Big Country
Promotional 1970 16 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Tuning into the biggest consumer market for television advertising in Britain with Trident TV.
Bradford Adverts Reel 3 Bradford Adverts Reel 3
Advert 4 mins Silent Location: Bradford
No wearisome overblown advertising for cinema-goers back in 1931, just straightforward advice: don’t risk accidents and “Don’t buy a dud!”
Bradford Adverts Reel 2 Bradford Adverts Reel 2
Advert 1 mins Silent Location: Bradford
Without trying to be too clever, these advertisements demonstrate the virtue of the uncomplicated: short, sweet and memorable.
Bradford City: A Year of Healing Bradford City: A Year of Healing
Factual TV 1986 28 mins Location: Bradford
Numerous victims of the horrendous 1985 fire at Valley Parade manage to find positive outcomes to their suffering in this poignant film.
Brendan Fraser in Conversation Brendan Fraser in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 81 mins
The star of The Mummy, George of the Jungle and The Whale - for which he won an Academy Award - visits BFI Southbank to talk about his career.
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.