This film is part of Free
Trial of Casement
Crowds throng Bow Street during the trial of British diplomat turned Irish nationalist Roger Casement.
Non-Fiction 1916 1 mins Silent
Overview
The extraordinary story of Sir Roger Casement - British diplomat turned humanitarian activist turned Irish nationalist - is not well documented on film. Only one piece of footage of Casement himself is known to exist, and Topical Budget's newsreel cameras had to improvise as his dramatic downfall played out. This short item from 17 May captures crowds waiting "in vain" outside Bow Street Magistrate's Court for a glimpse of the prisoner: traitor to some, hero to many.
Arrested on 21 April 1916, hours after landing on the Kerry coast in a German submarine and just three days before the Easter Rising began in Dublin, Casement was whisked away to London to stand trial for treason. He was finally executed on 3 August, his fate sealed by the discovery and distribution of the legendary 'Black Diaries', which contained accounts of his homosexual activities. His body was buried in quicklime at Pentonville Prison and his remains not repatriated to Ireland until 1965.
Related
Handpicked by our curators
This Most Gallant Gentleman This Most Gallant Gentleman
Documentary 1966 10 mins
The remains of Irish nationalist Roger Casement are repatriated to Ireland almost half a century after his execution.
The Trial of Sir Roger Casement The Trial of Sir Roger Casement
Drama-documentary 1960 52 mins
Peter Wyngarde plays the gay British diplomat turned Irish nationalist, executed for treason in 1916
Dublin after Easter Rising 1916 Dublin after Easter Rising 1916
1916 18 mins Silent
A first draft of history: astounding images of Ireland's rubble-strewn capital in the aftermath of a historic rebellion.
1916 on Film
Shower Baths in the Trenches Shower Baths in the Trenches
Non-Fiction 1916 1 mins Silent
A humble scrub is all it takes to get these French troops in a lather.
Airship No. 9 Airship No. 9
Non-Fiction 1916 14 mins Silent Location: Walney Island
The maiden flight of Britain's first successful rigid airship – just don’t call it a zeppelin…
The Scarecrow The Scarecrow
Comedy 1916 12 mins Silent
A tramp steals the clothes from a scarecrow, but when he realises two couples are using its pockets to pass messages, he sees an opportunity.
Tubby's Typewriter Tubby's Typewriter
Comedy 1916 11 mins Silent
Newlywed Tubby fancies another man's typewriter and ends up in hot water with his new wife
Preston North End Football Club at Deepdale Preston North End Football Club at Deepdale
1916 8 mins Silent
Preston North End play Liverpool (probably) in a regional football competition during WWI.
Industrial Sidelights Industrial Sidelights
Interest film 1916 7 mins Silent
Goat farming, salmon farming and copper mining all feature in this enlightening oddity.
New
Under Sail in the Frozen North Under Sail in the Frozen North
1926 40 mins Silent
Compelling travel feature edited from footage of the 1925-26 Worsley Algarsson Arctic expedition.
Filmmakers in Focus: Michael Haneke Filmmakers in Focus: Michael Haneke
Inside Film 2021 41 mins
In this illustrated discussion, BFI programmer-at-large Geoff Andrew and Catherine Wheatley, the author of two books on Michael Haneke’s work, examine what makes him such a distinctive, important and often controversial cinematic artist.
Filmmakers in Focus: Věra Chytilová Filmmakers in Focus: Věra Chytilová
Inside Film 2021 41 mins
Film critic Carmen Gray and film writer Ela Bittencourt discuss three films by trailblazing Czech filmmaker Věra Chytilová.
Filmmakers in Focus: Louis Malle Filmmakers in Focus: Louis Malle
Inside Film 2021 40 mins
In this discussion, BFI programmer-at-large Geoff Andrew and Sue Harris, Professor of Film Studies at Queen Mary University of London, will focus on three titles to look at what made Malle such a rewarding filmmaker.
Filmmakers in Focus: Joanna Hogg Filmmakers in Focus: Joanna Hogg
Inside Film 2021 38 mins
BFI National Archive curator Will Massa and film critic Beatrice Loayza explore the work of contemporary British filmmaker Joanna Hogg.
Filmmakers in Focus: Agnès Varda Filmmakers in Focus: Agnès Varda
Inside Film 2021 47 mins
Writer and activist So Mayer joins filmmaker and critic Alexandra Hidalgo to discuss the work of acclaimed French director and artist Agnès Varda.