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Explore London Zoo with one of its greediest residents, Sally the sparrow.
Documentary 1945 9 mins
Never mind the polar bears, penguins and giraffes - in this film London Zoo's main attraction is an enterprising sparrow who feeds off the animals' leftovers. Nature and animals were recurring themes in Gaumont-British Instructional's films for children and the anthropomorphic jokes and whimsical commentary, in this case delivered in rhyming couplets, would have strengthened their appeal.
This is one of hundreds of films that were shown at Saturday morning children's cinema clubs across the country in the 1940s. The shows were popular and attracted a regular audience of around half a million 7 to 14 year-olds. As well as cinemas the films were also made available on 16mm for screening in schools, so the filmmakers' remit was to strike a careful balance between education and entertainment - more than competently achieved here.
Documentary 1940 12 mins
Fun mixture of natural history and wartime public information.
Children's 1952 21 mins Silent Location: Biddenden
An eccentric dog-loving grocer leads the chase to reclaim a stolen pedigree poodle in this madcap canine comedy
Amateur film 1950 2 mins Silent Location: Brighton
Brighton's crowds thrill to the sight of Billy Smart's Circus parading through their town in this film from the 1950s
Amateur film 1970 8 mins Location: Newchapel
Enjoy this heartwarming film about neglected horses, ponies and donkeys being re-habilitated at 'Cherry Tree Farm' in leafy Surrey
Non-Fiction 1930 2 mins Silent Location: Sennen
Sink or swim as Rub and his chums are set adrift
1953 16 mins
Wildfowl and wallabies in the wild, exotic animals in the office
1957 10 mins Silent Location: Camden Town
An observational study of the activity around the arrival and departures at King’s Cross station
Amateur film 1979 16 mins Silent Location: Camden Town
The punks go shopping in this evocatively dingy entry in Captain Zip's seminal Video Trip.
Government sponsored film 1940 9 mins Location: London
Humphrey Jennings and Harry Watt’s famous GPO film is an enduring example of British self-mythology; a hymn to London’s resilience that helped persuade America to join the war.
Non-Fiction 1969 21 mins Silent Location: Camden Town
Join distracted onlookers at a protest “be-in” at Camden’s Roundhouse –alongside portraits of Lenin and a giant inflatable phallus.
Magazine and Review show 1985 9 mins Location: Camden Town
Composition is the key as Nancy Kuo guides us through the strength and grace of her art in her Camden Town studio.
1924 11 mins Location: Limehouse
Part of Wonderful London, the BFI National Archive’s programme of restored London travelogues, filmed in the capital in the 1920s.
Comedy 1896 1 mins Silent
A deft music hall act adapted for film, featuring the only known appearance of pioneer filmmaker Robert Paul
Advert 1985 2 mins
Take a fighter jet, a Top Gun pilot with sunglasses and a brand new SAAB 900 and you have a sure-fire vehicle to launch a Hollywood career.
Promotional 2019 10 mins
A wandering warrior dreams of a new form of expression, in this promo for UNKLE’s album The Road: Part II / Lost Highway Pt. II directed by Warren Du Preez and Nick Thornton Jones.
1935 16 mins
A rare glimpse of 1930s London in colour: the Thames has never looked lovelier.
1965 1 mins Location: York
A world away from zany humour, Richard Lester shows he can also capture the easy opulence of the upper class nibbling After Eight mints.
Advert 1946 1 mins Silent
Life is looking up! The war is over and the “Corona” Man can visit his “Corona” families once more, door-to-door.
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