This film is part of Free

The Scilly Isles
Scillonian daffodils are a feast for the eyes – and watch out for the curious cows eyeing up the camera.
Overview
It’s hard not to wish for colour footage in this magazine item on the Scilly Isles’ flower industry. The back-breaking life of a flower-cutter is perhaps nowhere better demonstrated than in a part of the world renowned for gorgeous daffodils. And those expansive panoramas and tracking shots along the island’s characterful coastline must have worked wonders for the Isles’ tourism business, too.
This newsreel item was produced by Pathe, already an established and versatile filmmaker by the time this appeared. Early travelogue pictures like this one sometimes favoured a tint - in a bid either to boost the perceived realism of the scenes, or simply to add a little visual pizzazz. Although the yellow tinting here has faded in places, it still gives vibrancy to the fields of blooming daffodils.
Related

Scilly Isles Holiday Scilly Isles Holiday
Amateur film 1954 12 mins Silent Location: Isles of Scilly
Enjoy all the tranqility and magnificent scenery of the Isles of Scilly in this colourful film from 1954

Scenes in the Scilly Isles Scenes in the Scilly Isles
Travelogue 1912 3 mins Silent Location: Isles of Scilly
A picturesque look at the islands' cut flower industry

Isles of Scilly - Daffodils Isles of Scilly - Daffodils
School programme and Educational film 1960 17 mins Silent Location: Isles of Scilly
This should be a ‘scatch-and-sniff' film, so viewers can enjoy the scent of the daffodils whilst seeing them harvested and packed for export.

Exiles v Nomads in the Smallest League in the World Exiles v Nomads in the Smallest League in the World
Non-Fiction 1980 5 mins Location: Isles of Scilly
Exiles v Nomads in the Smallest League in the World

Spring Comes to England Spring Comes to England
Government sponsored film 1934 16 mins Location: Isles of Scilly
Farming techniques and modern methods bring new crops to market.

New Perspectives: Tangerine New Perspectives: Tangerine
Short documentary 2025 3 mins
Harry Wallace, a student at Northumbria university, explains why Sean Baker's LA-set comedy-drama, about a transgender sex worker on the hunt for her cheating -ex, is worth your time.

Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode
Inside Film 2025 44 mins
Daniel Craig talks to Mark Kermode about his acting career, from his early role in Love is the Devil through to the Luca Guadagnino directed Queer.

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.

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.

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.

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.