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East End Streets (Fun Palace Outtakes)

Street games in East London

1963 3 mins Silent

Overview

Shots of signage and shopfronts give way to scenes of children playing in the street, and cameraman Walter Lassally shows them the view through his lens.

This mute footage was shot for a film to support theatre director and filmmaker Joan Littlewood's idea for a 'Fun Palace' - a huge movable construction that would house education and entertainment attractions. In 1963 Littlewood shot 60 reels of 16mm rushes around London to show what people currently did for leisure and to demonstrate that something else was needed. This is one of several reels available to watch on BFI Player. The film was finished but is now lost, and sadly Joan's Fun Palace never got built. However, the rushes paint a fantastic picture of the period, with many expertly filmed by cameraman Walter Lassally, who also shot We are the Lambeth Boys and A Taste of Honey.

Original title

Joan Littlewood Pleasure Roll 37

Director

Joan Littlewood

Featuring

Walter Lassally

Country

United Kingdom

Language

No Dialogue with English subtitles

Subjects

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