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
PS St Elvies, Flying Boats and PS Snowdon
On the Menai Strait: boats that paddle or fly with a certain charisma, and a yacht that glides which became the Kalizma!
From the collection of:
Overview
The Johnston's home – 'Bryn Mêl' – at Glyngarth, Anglesey, overlooked the Menai Strait and Isla Johnston, using a telephoto lens, recorded a variety of passing vessels: two paddle steamers (St Elvies and Snowdon), flying boats and an elegant yacht, the Minona, possibly owned by the Johnstons or friends. Having served the Royal Navy during wartime (WWI and II), this yacht later featured in the Burton-Taylor romance, Burton buying it in 1967 and re-naming it Kalizma.
Isla Johnston, daughter of Helen Kendall and Edmund Johnston, owner of the Liverpool-based Johnston Line shipping company [from 1934 the Johnston-Warren Lines company], filmed and photographed local events. The St Elvies seen here was owned by the Liverpool and North Wales Steamship Co. and mainly used on Isle of Man trips. Her service ended in 1930, and this footage was shot in September of that year so may record one of her last trips, if not her last. The Snowdon was withdrawn from service in 1931, the last paddle steamer in the fleet. The LNWS Co. operated various services which included calls at Liverpool, Holyhead, Llandudno, Bangor, the Menai Strait piers, the Isle of Man and Fleetwood in Lancashire.
Related
Watch for free
Grounded on the Platters: HMS Conway Grounded on the Platters: HMS Conway
Home movie 1953 7 mins Silent Location: Anglesey/Ynysmôn
A sorry end to any ship: timings, tide and wind played their part in pushing HMS Conway onto the Platters rocks in the Menai Strait on 14/4/1953.
Watch for free
Ambling through Anglesey Ambling through Anglesey
Amateur film 1946 5 mins Silent Location: Beaumaris
Ambling Scottish ramblers, members of The Countryside Club, enjoy Anglesey at a leisurely pace.
Watch for free
Racing on the Menai Strait Racing on the Menai Strait
Home movie 1930 7 mins Silent Location: Menai Strait/Afon Menai
Only a dull land lubber could fail to appreciate these yachts in full sail, and the steam yacht Minona (later Richard Burton’s ‘Kalizma’)!
Watch for free
North Wales, England: The Land of Castles and Waterfalls North Wales, England: The Land of Castles and Waterfalls
Travelogue 1907 15 mins Silent Location: Chester
An Edwardian excursion along the crenelated coast of North Wales from the walls of Chester to the wilds of Snowdonia.
Watch for free
Menai Strait Regatta, Amlwch Station, Irish Trawler, Slate Train Port Dinorwic Menai Strait Regatta, Amlwch Station, Irish Trawler, Slate Train Port Dinorwic
Non-Fiction 1960 15 mins Silent Location: Menai Strait/Afon Menai
Sail (regatta, and Irish trawler hauling in whiting), rail (children and piglets at Amlwch Station) and slate (last slate train at Port Dinorwic).
Watch for free
Dr Kate Dr Kate
Home movie 1969 19 mins Silent Location: Menai Bridge/Porthaethwy
Giving and Taking: writer Kate Roberts bestows her childhood home – Cae’r Gors - on the nation, and Caernarfonshire Council moves to close Bryncroes School despite opposition.
Watch for free
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Watch for free
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.
Watch for free
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch for free
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.