This film is part of Free
Riding Abreast
Three carefree schoolgirl cyclists learn the dangers of 'riding abreast' in this quaint cautionary tale shot in idyllic countryside.
Overview
Jill, Mary and Brenda learn the rules of the road the hard way in this charming cautionary tale, made for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Full of idyllic pastoral scenes - the girls go butterfly-spotting, ride horses and picnic on a mountain-top - all filmed in glorious Kodachrome colour, this is as much a record of dreamy summer holidays gone by as a treatise on road safety.
RoSPA sponsored many instructional films for children in the 30s and 40s. This one may have been made by a local amateur cine club (for screening at village halls rather than cinemas) and is all the more lovely for it. The filmmaker clearly revelled in the beautiful scenery: the close-up shots of butterflies and caterpillars are poetic, if perhaps a little distracting from the serious business of road safety!
Related
Amelia and the Angel Amelia and the Angel
Amateur film 1958 26 mins Location: South Kensington
A young angel scours London for her wings in this tender short by the young Ken Russell.
Eagle Rock Eagle Rock
Children's 1965 62 mins Location: Lake District National Park
A teenage boy breaks all the rules of rock climbing to reach the top of an off-limits Lake District mountain.
Playing on Beach (Passmore Family Film) Playing on Beach (Passmore Family Film)
Home movie 1903 1 mins Silent Location: Bognor Regis
Utterly gorgeous Edwardian home movie of a family's day out with bucket and spade on Bognor Regis beach.
Village School Village School
Documentary 1940 11 mins Location: Ashley Green
WWII evacuees adapt to village life in a patriotic documentary starring a real Buckinghamshire school teacher.
Do Something! Do Something!
Current affairs 1970 27 mins Location: Islington
This Week investigates how racial tensions in Islington are being stoked by social pressures, and what residents are doing to improve the area.
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.
Jon M. Chu: The Wizard of Wicked Jon M. Chu: The Wizard of Wicked
Inside Film 2025 49 mins
Director Jon M. Chu discusses his ground-breaking vision of Oz.
Yorgos Lanthimos Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Yorgos Lanthimos Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 66 mins
Yorgos Lanthimos sits down with Succession creator Jesse Armstrong to reveal the secret ingredients that underpin his uniquely weird brand of satire.
Islands - Extended Q&A Islands - Extended Q&A
Inside Film 2025 31 mins
Director Jan Ole Gerster and actor Sam Riley talk about Islands, a thriller with noirish undertones and echoes of Hitchcock and Highsmith.
Lynne Ramsay Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Lynne Ramsay Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 67 mins
Lynne Ramsay discusses her singular career populated by visually intoxicating, ground-breaking and provocative films.