We use cookies and other technologies to enable you to watch films. Continued use of this site indicates acceptance, as part of our Privacy policy.
Your cookies are disabled - you'll need to enable them to play any film. Find out how in our Privacy policy.
iPhone and iPad users: Chromecast now available via your iOS device. Download app version 2.8 to enable. See Help for more.
This film is part of Free
Charming fantasy adventure filmed by a prep schoolmaster and starring the pupils at the school. Schoolboys search for a fairytale princess.
Amateur film 1938 12 mins Silent
From the collection of:
Children's fantasy adventure filmed in 1938. Schoolboys search their village for a princess, giving each animal on their journey a ‘magic pill’, hoping to restore a princess to human form.
As well as recording local events, Anthony C. Wilson, a schoolmaster at a boys preparatory school, scripted and produced a number of short films starring his pupils. These thrilling stories would inspire his later work, scripting radio plays for the BBC’s ‘Children’s Hour’, and writing his own books featuring the popular characters, boy detectives Norman and Henry Bones.
Do you recognise a place, building or location in this film?
Help us populate the Britain on Film map by spotting and plotting the street or location you know. This is a BFI project and anyone can help.
Go to our Britain on Film crowdsourcing site and contribute to our mapping mission – to identify locations within our archive films.
Add a location
Drama 1949 22 mins Silent
Prize-winning amateur film about the fleeting affair between a housewife and a young man on a summer day.
Science Fiction 1982 16 mins Location: Ballymagowan
Alien overlords, a giant robot and cavemen… welcome to the feverish imagination of Roy Spence.
Sponsored film 1950 9 mins Location: Cambridge
A delightful road safety film set on the streets of Cambridge featuring an escaped horse with a respect for the Highway Code.
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1988 5 mins Location: South Shields
Barbie dolls in pink battle khaki killing machines in a Christmas animation that cocks a snook at the “Disney Doctrine”.
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1986 10 mins Location: North Tyneside
An exuberant animated short celebrates writer Sid Chaplins short story about the defiant spirit of an old miner who finds his beloved pigeon loft is under threat.
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1976 10 mins Location: South Shields
A boy and his cat make mischief in the snow at South Shields in this captivating hand-drawn childrens animation created by Sheila Graber.
Amateur film 1937 9 mins Silent Location: Ingoldisthorpe
A bumbling vicar steals the scene in this short chase film; a silent comedy set in a Norfolk village, featuring many of the villagers.
Amateur film 1940 13 mins Silent Location: Ingoldisthorpe
Snakes, lizards, squirrels, birds, crabs - schoolchildren go on a nature trail searching village and coast for all kinds of wildlife.
Amateur film 1938 28 mins Silent Location: Ingoldisthorpe
Thrilling pirate adventure made by a preparatory schoolmaster and starring some of his schoolchildren, who apprehend dangerous smugglers.
Amateur film 1938 4 mins Silent Location: Ingoldisthorpe
At a Norfolk country house Ingoldisthorpe villagers enjoy a fancy dress costumed garden party and tea dance at the annual Summer Fete, in 1938.
Amateur film 1974 11 mins Location: Hayling Island
You'll be up to your knees in clay when you meet the Pyecrofts in this delightful film about a family brick making business on Hayling Island -
Amateur film 1976 4 mins Silent Location: Netley Marsh
The hot summer of '76 is made even hotter by a line-up of working steam traction engines in this nostalgic film from R H Collins
Amateur film 1952 15 mins Silent Location: Eastbourne
Journey back to the 50s where the boys of Eastbourne College enjoy a jolly good time square bashing, parading, playing rugby and athletics, rowing on the River Ouse and touring.
Amateur film 1966 7 mins Silent Location: Hove
Catch a glimpse of Hove's old town hall before the bull-dozers move in as well as leafy Horsham scenes and a local hunt at Patcham in this film from Doreen Combes
Amateur film 1969 4 mins Silent Location: Fulking
Frank Gregory captures rural West Sussex in this charming film from 1969 - featuring Shire horses at a ploughing match and excellent views of a spinning Shipley Mill
Amateur film 1967 4 mins Silent Location: Southend Pier
Join this happy family on a jolly to Southend - visiting the mile long pier, the replica Golden Hind, a jellied eel stall and lured by posters promising medieval torture
The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
