The Media Archive for Central England is the public screen archive for the East and West Midlands. An independent charity and company based at the University of Lincoln, MACE acquires, catalogues, preserves and makes widely available moving image materials that inform our understanding of the diverse cultures and histories of communities between the Lincolnshire coast and the Welsh border.
This film is currently unavailable
Video Player is loading.
Rationalising City Transportation
Quieter than a diesel bus, more manoeuvrable than a tram. The Guy trolley bus is the answer to all your transport problems and they're 'perfectly safe up to 40mph'.
From the collection of:
Overview
Providing a fascinating glimpse of inter-war road conditions, which were a confusing melee of cars, trams, horses and pedestrians, this promotional film for Guy Motors shows the versatility of the firm's range of trolley buses. See how, in Rotherham, the agile trolley nips around its cumbersome older relative, the tram, and negotiates the narrow streets of Guy's home town of Wolverhampton, which then had the largest fleet of trolley buses in England.
Guy Motors Ltd continued to make trolley buses into the early 1960s, using the Sunbeam name in later years. After falling into receivership in 1961 they were bought out by Jaguar and, following a series of mergers in the motor industry, eventually became part of British Leyland. The Wolverhampton factory and the Guy name disappeared in 1982.
Related
Watch for free
On The Fifth Day On The Fifth Day
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1979 2 mins Silent Location: Wolverhampton
A flight of fancy, and a story of creation seen with an animator's eye.
Watch for free
Little Red Riding Hood Little Red Riding Hood
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1980 8 mins Location: Wolverhampton
A big, bad, but very stylish, wolf meets his match in this model animation of a traditional fairy tale.
Watch for free
Immigration Control Immigration Control
Current affairs 1978 9 mins Location: West Bromwich
The UK's immigration laws have prevented Dara Singh from seeing his family for a decade. His is one of many sad stories...
Watch for free
Asian Community Centre Asian Community Centre
News 1979 5 mins Location: Wolverhampton
Will the 'House of Cards' be the sanctuary that the elderly Asian men of Wolverhampton need?
Watch for free
Community Centre Community Centre
Magazine and Review show 1984 7 mins Location: Wolverhampton
A centre for the "undertones and outcasts". Breaking down cultural and generational barriers at Wolverhampton's first Rastafari centre.
Watch for free
Saturday Fever Saturday Fever
Cinemagazine 1961 9 mins Location: Tottenham
A snapshot of Saturday afternoon football watched by thousands of adoring fans, plus contrasting scenes of Southport and Spurs players in training.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.
Watch for free
Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.
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.