The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Tramp Tramp Tramp
A dance band crooner and his sweetheart take the rough with the smooth on a hike through Yorkshire in the 1930s.
From the collection of:
Overview
Two novice backpackers take a marathon hike through the Yorkshire moors and dales in the 1930s. From a kip in a bathtub to a thirst-quenching pint at the head of Stake Pass, George is a dance band crooner who takes the rough with the smooth. Meanwhile, his elegant girlfriend contemplates sublime landscapes like a Romantic loner in a Casper David Friedrich painting, and gamely poses in a fake rain shower in York.
The narrative devices, comic interludes and rudimentary special effects make this creative amateur travelogue delightfully watchable, despite poor picture quality at times. The film includes footage of the Ripon Hornblower in the ‘Setting the Watch’ ceremony that dates back to the year 886. The filmmaker, George Cummin, played saxophone in a dance band in Whitby in the 30s and later became a reserve fireman in Manchester during World War Two. He began to make films in 1933, working on many documentaries and fiction films into the 1960s as a member of the Newcastle and District Amateur Cinematographers’ Association.
Related
Not Forgotten - Homes for Disabled Men Not Forgotten - Homes for Disabled Men
Non-Fiction 1928 1 mins Silent Location: Richmond
Countess Haig, beaming, opens a block of flats for disabled ex-service employees at the Poppy Factory in Richmond.
Army VS Empire Rugger Match Army VS Empire Rugger Match
Amateur film 1940 2 mins Silent Location: Richmond
The Army rugby squad take on the Empire team in this fast-paced World War 2 match at Richmond Athletic Ground
The Torrens family visits Windsor, Kew and London The Torrens family visits Windsor, Kew and London
Amateur film 1955 8 mins Silent Location: Richmond
Join the Torrens family as they cram in as many sights as possible in their short trip to London - taking in Windsor Castle, Kew Gardens, the Tower of London and polar bears
Surrey Symphony Surrey Symphony
Travelogue 1949 11 mins Location: Kew
A picturesque look at the attractions in Surrey, including Kew Gardens, Wimbledon and Guildford
The West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire
Travelogue 1911 7 mins Silent Location: York
A chance to see England’s highest waterfall in fall force, a wonderful long gone watermill, and the Shambles in York, pre-tourism.
Ramsgate to Richmond Ramsgate to Richmond
Amateur film 1967 12 mins Silent Location: Ramsgate
Join the jolly crew aboard this cabin cruiser as it journeys from Ramsgate to Richmond in John Clague's fascinating maritime epic
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.