This film is part of Free
Water Polo - Worthing Swimming Club
Brief but lively snatch of a game in progress
Overview
Water polo was on the up in the late-Victorian era, and this short but energetic bit of film gives us glimpse of a game in progress at an open-air pool in Worthing, West Sussex. It was shot in William Kennedy-Laurie Dickson's own 68mm format, which accounts for the unusually high resolution of the images and allows us (on a big enough screen) to see the faces of the players.
This was one of a number of films made by during a trip to Worthing (just along the South Coast from Brighton and Hove, already well established as centres of pioneering film activity thanks to the efforts of Esmé Collings, G.A. Smith and James Williamson). A significantly longer version of the film survives in standard 35mm format.
Related
Launch of the Worthing Lifeboat Emerging from the Boathouse Launch of the Worthing Lifeboat Emerging from the Boathouse
Non-Fiction 1898 1 mins Silent Location: Worthing
Lifeboat paraded through the streets of Worthing on way to demonstrate a launch
Incoming Tide Incoming Tide
Non-Fiction 1898 1 mins Silent Location: Worthing
Worthing waves at us in this mesmerising early film
Me and My Two Friends Me and My Two Friends
1898 0 mins Silent Location: Worthing
A beatific image of Victorian childhood
Launch of the Worthing Lifeboat Coming Ashore Launch of the Worthing Lifeboat Coming Ashore
Documentary 1898 1 mins Silent Location: Worthing
Stunning footage of a lifesaving demonstration
Journey home to Canterbury Journey home to Canterbury
Amateur film 1930 7 mins Silent Location: Glastonbury
Join the Blighs on their homeward journey through the Southern counties - calling at Glastonbury and various ancient landmarks east
Re-building Worthing Pier, Wrecked by the Gales of Last Year Re-building Worthing Pier, Wrecked by the Gales of Last Year
Non-Fiction 1914 1 mins Silent Location: Worthing
Workmen set to on the reconstruction of Worthing Pier after it was destroyed by the English weather
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.