This film is part of Free

Sunday in the Park

John Schlesinger made his directorial debut with this charming snapshot of a lazy summer's day in Hyde Park.

Amateur film 1956 14 mins

Overview

Academy Award-winning director John Schlesinger made his debut with this charming short capturing ordinary Londoners enjoying their day of rest away from the pressures of the teeming metropolis. Roaming around Hyde Park, Schlesinger's camera sees past the calm surface to show a hive of activity and intrigue as people of all backgrounds eat, sleep, play and flirt in the sun.

The mischievous way the film is shot and edited is a real joy, as park-goers assess one another (some more covertly than others). This is a different side to 1950s London, a world away from the main tourist trail with its beefeaters, buses and overcrowded streets, and a reminder that people-watching has long been a favourite pastime for Londoners.

Subjects