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
Video Player is loading.
Our Movie Album
Join David and Vincent as they play on the streets and seafront of Hastings and St Leonards. There's even a trip to the Festival of Britain and a glamourous film premiere in London.
From the collection of:
Overview
A superb amateur film portraying life in the seaside town of Hastings and St Leonards as seen through the eyes of two small boys, David and Vincent. The film shows the boys playing on their scooters, shovelling snow and going with Mum to the shops as well as numerous seaside buildings and railway locations. As an added treat there is a visit to the 1951 Festival of Britain, views of Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square and a glamour-filled film premiere in Leicester Square.
Ray Young, who made 'Our Movie Album, was an independent amateur film-maker. He was also an active member of the Eastbourne Cine Group. His films often feature local events in East Sussex including agricultural shows, local craftsmen at work, local lidos and numerous family events. As can be seen in this film, he also filmed further afield visiting places like London, Windsor, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire. Walt Disney's 'The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie men' premiered in Leicester Square on the 13th March 1952. It starred Joan Rice, who appears in this film attending the opening, and Richard Todd and was Disney's second live action feature film.
Related
Watch for free
A Peep into the Future A Peep into the Future
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1946 2 mins Silent Location: Hastings
Post- war Hastings needs to brace itself for change in this short film from the Town Planning Department
Watch for free
Stranger on the Shore Stranger on the Shore
Short documentary 2016 13 mins Location: St Leonards
Concluding Michael Smith and Maxy Bianco's trilogy on Britain's coastal edgelands, this films looks specifically at the bohemian eccentricity of Hastings.
Watch for free
Hastings' Week of Pageantry: Sir Herbert Tree Unveils the Tablet to Kean & Elliston Hastings' Week of Pageantry: Sir Herbert Tree Unveils the Tablet to Kean & Elliston
Non-Fiction 1914 2 mins Silent Location: Hastings
A plaque commemorating the first theatre in Hastings is unveiled and Stone Age dwellers take to the lake for a race.
Watch for free
Seaside Scenes at Hastings Seaside Scenes at Hastings
Amateur film 1938 15 mins Silent Location: Hastings
Hastings looks marvellous in this sumptuous colour film from the late 1930s - complete with sunbathing, swimming and being slapped with a fish
Watch for free
Holiday in May Holiday in May
Amateur film 1952 17 mins Silent Location: St Leonards
Join the Youngs as they tour a number of historic coastal towns and resorts during a May holiday in the early fifties
Watch for free
Hastings Calling Hastings Calling
Non-Fiction 1926 1 mins Silent Location: Hastings
Town criers test their vocal mettle and there's a comic knees-up in this curious tinted newsreel item
Watch for free
On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.
Watch for free
Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.
Watch for free
All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.
Watch for free
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Watch for free
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.