This film is part of Free
Not So Much a Facelift...
An enjoyably odd public information film shot on the streets of Blackburn, Norwich and Oxford.
Documentary 1976 25 mins
Overview
This enjoyably oddball public information film features good location footage from Blackburn, Norwich and Oxford. A dry, if important, subject (local government policies for making small improvements to urban areas) is presented in rather eccentric style. 'Fly-on-the-wall' scenes are unconvincing, and the use of folk singing unintentionally hilarious - but rather beautifully cut to the images.
There’s method in the madness: the charming, homespun patchwork feel of the film suggests a humility and sense of human scale in the new policy of General Improvement Areas, compared to the comprehensive redevelopment that dominated post-war town planning. The film was mainly screened in meetings between council planners, architects and residents. Despite (or because) of its sillier trappings, it exudes a truly likeable decency, making it an honourable minor entry in the civic-minded tradition of films like the documentary classic Housing Problems (1935). This government film is a public record, preserved and presented by the BFI National Archive on behalf of The National Archives, home to more than 1,000 years of British history.
Related
Most Popular Free 2015
Milton Keynes - A Village City Milton Keynes - A Village City
Cinemagazine 1973 8 mins Location: Milton Keynes
"The most exciting thing going on in Europe, if not the world": welcome to Milton Keynes circa 1973.
Portsmouth's Charlotte Street Market Portsmouth's Charlotte Street Market
Amateur film 1977 6 mins Silent Location: Portsmouth
The colourful bustle of Portsmouth's oldest street market features in this 1977 film – where traders and shoppers mix under the brooding presence of the infamous Tricorn Centre.
Telford Telford
School programme and Educational film 1977 9 mins Location: Telford
Six Shropshire villages combine and the new town of Telford is born.
Wolverhampton into the Seventies Wolverhampton into the Seventies
Documentary 1970 20 mins Location: Wolverhampton
Bricks and mortar makes way for concrete and reinforced steel as Wolverhampton sweeps the past aside in a modernist town planning utopia.
Chichester Tour Chichester Tour
Amateur film 1962 7 mins Silent Location: Chichester
A fascinating film showing the cathedral city of Chichester before the arrival of its ringroad and the pedestrianisation of its Roman streets.
Manchester Street Scenes (1901) Manchester Street Scenes (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 5 mins Silent Location: Manchester
A rare glimpse of early Edwardian Manchester when the horse-drawn tram still reigned supreme.
Norwich
"Out West" Norwich Union Cinema Advertisement "Out West" Norwich Union Cinema Advertisement
Advert 1971 1 mins Location: Norwich
It's all hip and happening working in insurance, as this 1971 recruitment advertisement for Norwich Union, made for cinema screening, shows.
Norwich Market Norwich Market
Amateur film 1974 4 mins Location: Norwich
Whether you’re after handbags, children’s toys, flat caps, ladies’ coats or your everyday fruit and veg, it’s all here at Norwich market.
The Cromer Train The Cromer Train
Amateur film 1984 11 mins Location: Norwich
The railway line from Norwich to Cromer; a vital link in local life, but will the trains continue?
Today's Price Today's Price
Amateur film 1973 11 mins Location: Norwich
Norwich market from dawn to dusk in all weathers, with commentary by the market traders comparing the market now with their memories. The market has traded for over 900 years.
River - A Living Thing River - A Living Thing
Documentary 1983 26 mins Location: Syderstone
Dick Joice introduces this documentary charting the course and the history of the river starting at Horningtoft and finishing in Norwich.
Read's Flour Mill Read's Flour Mill
Documentary 1993 4 mins Location: Norwich
Between the River Wensum and King Street stood Albion Mill, an 1837 yarn mill, repurposed in 1932 as a flour mill by Robert John Read.
New
How to Die Young in Manila How to Die Young in Manila
Drama 2020 12 mins
A teenage boy trails a group of young hustlers, thinking one of them may be his anonymous hook-up for the night.
The Summer of 12 The Summer of 12
Drama 2019 25 mins
Amongst the young members of a swimming team, the onset of puberty brings unwanted challenges.
Melt Melt
Drama 2018 12 mins
When Little Jia is asked to read his essay about how he spent Women's Day with his mother out loud in class, he has to hide the sad truth that only his friend Dong knows.
Langit Budak Biru Langit Budak Biru
Drama 2018 23 mins
Two teenage boys in a Malaysian boarding school wrestle with the challenges of bullying and identity.
Kiss of the Rabbit God Kiss of the Rabbit God
Fantasy 2019 15 mins
A Chinese-American restaurant worker falls in love with an 18th century Qing dynasty god, who visits him at night and leads him on a journey of sexual awakening and self-discovery.
Red Aninsri; Or, Tiptoeing on the Still Trembling Berlin Wall Red Aninsri; Or, Tiptoeing on the Still Trembling Berlin Wall
Drama 2020 30 mins
A transgender sex worker is assigned an undercover mission to investigate a student activist.