The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
It's No Joke Living in Barnsley
Barnsley-born actor Brian Glover returns to his Yorkshire hometown in this RTS-winning portrait of 1970s working-class northern life.
From the collection of:
Overview
This funny and poignant short film, fronted by notable Yorkshire-born actor Brian Glover, presents the state of Barnsley’s contemporary cultural and social scenes. Glover uses his humour and charm to gain candid responses from local residents on both light-hearted and moving issues.
Brian Glover was a well-known figure in Yorkshire after starring in Ken Loach’s drama Kes (1969) as Mr Sugden. He went onto appear in the Hollywood film Alien 3 (1992).
Related
Spelga Dam Spelga Dam
Industry sponsored film 1960 17 mins Silent
A concrete reason to give a dam about water supplies in Northern Ireland, in the heart of the picturesque Mourne Mountains
Credo Credo
1978 23 mins
Blood on the Streets. Bengali youth fight back against racism and the National Front after the death of Altab Ali.
H Block Hunger Strike H Block Hunger Strike
Documentary 1980 33 mins Location: Belfast
An unflinching look at the experience of the 1980 H Block hunger strikers and the potentially stark consequences of their actions.
Jamaica Street Glasgow (1901) Jamaica Street Glasgow (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 3 mins Silent Location: Glasgow
A flood of pedestrians and horse-drawn traffic in Edwardian Glasgow.
Witham to Maldon East Witham to Maldon East
Amateur film 1957 13 mins Silent Location: Witham
Dusty the dog enjoys scenic views of the Essex countryside from the carriage of a passenger train, journeying with amateur filmmaker Chib Thorp.
Connah's Quay Carnival and Fete 1965 Connah's Quay Carnival and Fete 1965
Amateur film 1965 14 mins Silent Location: Connah's Quay
The Connah's Quay Old People's Association demonstrates that it's not just the young that are embued with carnival spirit.
CEAG Light Bulb Factory, Barnsley CEAG Light Bulb Factory, Barnsley
Industry sponsored film 1931 6 mins Silent Location: Barnsley
Barnsley CEAG factory women light the way forward for mining safety lamp production in this informative 1930s short film.
Mining Mining
Documentary 1982 26 mins Location: Gascoigne Wood Mine
A highly revealing look at the high expectations for coal mining in Yorkshire shortly before the defeat of the miners and mass pit closures.
Clegg's People: Food Clegg's People: Food
Documentary 1986 24 mins Location: Scarborough
A real appetiser of a film, as Yorkshire and beyond reveals some of its gastronomic concoctions, such as the Pontefract cake, Bakewell pudding, and fare not for the queasy.
Black Diamonds Black Diamonds
Amateur film 1932 50 mins Location: Doncaster
A Barnsley miner dreams of shooting a film about life down the pits in this audaciously ambitious amateur feature.
Tour of a British Coal Mine Tour of a British Coal Mine
Amateur film 1928 26 mins Silent Location: Barnsley
Deep underground, Yorkshire miners hew their living out of the coalface.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.