London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
This film is part of Free
Watts Family Films: Karen’s Christening, Epsom (1973)
Much champagne is spilled as the Watts family celebrate the christening of baby Karen with a large family gathering.
From the collection of:
Overview
Lovely film of a family party in 1973, celebrating the christening of baby Karen. The christening takes place at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Epsom, but then cuts to the Watts family home nearby in Hookfield. There is lots of bottle opening – one has a thin neck several feet long - and snacks include vine leaves, reflecting a multicultural gathering. Wonderful also to compare the older people in suits with the younger generation’s bright clothes and long hair.
The family party is a delightful watch, featuring lots of laughter, cake, champagne and gesticulating. Many of the guests were born in Egypt of Maltese heritage – Daisy Watts, the baby’s mother, was born in Alexandria – and this would have been a multicultural occasion, with conversations in Italian but peppered with French, Arabic, Greek and occasionally English if the vocabulary was desired. The film was shot by Salvo Camenzuli, Daisy’s father.
Related
Watch for free
The Derby: Coaches, Etc, Through Epsom Town The Derby: Coaches, Etc, Through Epsom Town
Non-Fiction 1899 2 mins Silent Location: Epsom
Red letter day for the Victorian horseracing fraternity and the Surrey town.
Watch for free
Suffragette Derby of 1913 Suffragette Derby of 1913
Non-Fiction 1913 5 mins Silent Location: Epsom
A momentous act of self sacrifice is caught on camera - Emily Davison is trampled by the King's horse at the 1913 Epsom Derby.
Watch for free
Watts Family Films: Karen’s Fourth Birthday, Epsom (1977) Watts Family Films: Karen’s Fourth Birthday, Epsom (1977)
Home movie 1977 3 mins Silent Location: Epsom
A fourth birthday party begins with a polite tea and ends in balloon-hitting flag-waving anarchy as the kids enjoy their sugar rush.
Watch for free
Watts Family Films: Peter’s Christening And Summer 1976, Epsom (1976) Watts Family Films: Peter’s Christening And Summer 1976, Epsom (1976)
Home movie 1976 10 mins Silent Location: Epsom
A baby’s christening is followed by a garden party, and then excitable splashing during the heatwave that hit London in 1976.
Watch for free
Watts Family Films: Christmas 1974/Summer 1975/Christmas 1975, Epsom (1974/75) Watts Family Films: Christmas 1974/Summer 1975/Christmas 1975, Epsom (1974/75)
Home movie 1976 13 mins Silent Location: Epsom
A giant dolls house, new baby and paddling pool all feature in this film covering a calendar year in the London suburbs.
Watch for free
Watts Family Films: Christmas 1977, Epsom (1978) Watts Family Films: Christmas 1977, Epsom (1978)
Home movie 1978 3 mins Silent Location: Epsom
One elderly relative falls asleep, but the kids still have a ball opening their Christmas presents in the Epsom suburbs.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.