Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
Sussex 1939
The Sussex Communist Party presents its review of events and activities during the final months before the outbreak of war in this remarkable film from 1939.
From the collection of:
Overview
This record of the Sussex Communist Party's activities in 1939 provides an unusual perspective on the last months of peace. We start with demonstrations and arrests outside Brighton's Employment Exchange followed by the Party's 2nd County Congress, where speakers include the filmmaker, Ernie Trory. May Day in Hastings follows while in Brighton, Labour members defect to the CPGB. Finally, we’re marching in Eastbourne and listening to fiery speeches on the seafront.
Ernie Trory filmed a number of political events as part of his work as organiser for the Sussex Communist Party, which was founded on championing workers rights, rallying against unemployment and promoting the Soviet regime. It was also a vociferous opponent of fascism, both in the UK and abroad, which included fighting in the Spanish Civil War. Evidence of these activities can be observed through Ernie Trory's self styled 'scrap-book' style filmic review of the regional Party's activities. Ernie Trory's films capture these key moments in the Party's history and in the social history of the South East. Interestingly, this film's content ends in summer, presumably before the Nazi-Soviet Pact was signed.
Related
Watch for free
Vote for Froglet Vote for Froglet
Children's 1974 7 mins
As the general election is held in the UK, it's polling day for the Clangers on a small blue planet far away.
Watch for free
Sam Small at Westminster Sam Small at Westminster
Promotional 1935 3 mins
It's the 1935 general election and Stanley Holloway recites a comic monologue promoting the policies of the National Government.
Watch for free
Bristol Fashion Bristol Fashion
Party political broadcast 1959 25 mins Location: Bristol
The Labour Party takes a heartfelt look at Bristol council’s social(ist) housing and education agenda, spinning a 'new story from an old city'.
Watch for free
Mr. Jenkins Pays His Rates Mr. Jenkins Pays His Rates
Documentary 1957 19 mins Location: Slough
Slough gets a resounding thumbs-up from a reluctant ratepayer in a surprising 1950s government film.
Watch for free
Socialist Car of State Socialist Car of State
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1930 9 mins Silent
Party-political hyperbole meets Wacky Races in this spirited cartoon produced for the Conservative Party.
Watch for free
Children and Politics Children and Politics
News 1964 3 mins
Some remarkably well informed (well, for the most part) children interviewed prior to the 1964 General Election.
Watch for free
A Peep into the Future A Peep into the Future
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1946 2 mins Silent Location: Hastings
Post- war Hastings needs to brace itself for change in this short film from the Town Planning Department
Watch for free
Stranger on the Shore Stranger on the Shore
Short documentary 2016 13 mins Location: St Leonards
Concluding Michael Smith and Maxy Bianco's trilogy on Britain's coastal edgelands, this films looks specifically at the bohemian eccentricity of Hastings.
Watch for free
Hastings' Week of Pageantry: Sir Herbert Tree Unveils the Tablet to Kean & Elliston Hastings' Week of Pageantry: Sir Herbert Tree Unveils the Tablet to Kean & Elliston
Non-Fiction 1914 2 mins Silent Location: Hastings
A plaque commemorating the first theatre in Hastings is unveiled and Stone Age dwellers take to the lake for a race.
Watch for free
Seaside Scenes at Hastings Seaside Scenes at Hastings
Amateur film 1938 15 mins Silent Location: Hastings
Hastings looks marvellous in this sumptuous colour film from the late 1930s - complete with sunbathing, swimming and being slapped with a fish
Watch for free
Holiday in May Holiday in May
Amateur film 1952 17 mins Silent Location: St Leonards
Join the Youngs as they tour a number of historic coastal towns and resorts during a May holiday in the early fifties
Watch for free
Hastings Calling Hastings Calling
Non-Fiction 1926 1 mins Location: Hastings
Town criers test their vocal mettle and there's a comic knees-up in this curious tinted newsreel item
Watch for free
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
Watch for free
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Watch for free
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Watch for free
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
Watch for free
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
Watch for free
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.