This film is part of Free
Trip to North Wales on the St Elvies (1902)
A steamship tour along the picturesque coast from Liverpool to the Menai Straits.
Overview
This unusually long Mitchell and Kenyon film is something special: an ambitious seagoing 'phantom ride' taking us through the mouth of the Mersey, around the North Wales coast and into the Menai Straits. It was one of the most widely seen of Mitchell & Kenyon's non-fiction films, screening around the UK in a successful break from their usual 'local films for local people' approach.
The St Elvies ran between Liverpool and Llandudno until 1902 - this film (or parts of it) may even show the ferry's final passenger voyage that September. A charming animated opening features the letters of the title dancing around to form the name of the first section. More intertitles appear throughout to indicate progress along the route (the final three sections of the film have no intertitles, suggesting that these sections may have been offcuts). Intertitles are very rare in Mitchell and Kenyon's surviving films, though we can't be certain that this is because M&K seldom used them. It's possible that these particular titles were added later (we know the film was still being screened some years after it was first shot). It's also possible that other films in the collection - which were found as negatives, rather than viewing prints - don't reflect the exact form in which they were originally seen by audiences.
Related
Tram Journey through Southampton Tram Journey through Southampton
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Silent Location: Southampton
A moving tour through lively turn-of-the-century Southampton.
Churned Waters Churned Waters
Non-Fiction 1899 1 mins Silent
A hypnotic study of the wake of a ship at sea
Panorama of the Paris Exhibition No. 3 Panorama of the Paris Exhibition No. 3
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Silent
An unusual view of Paris, shot from a boat travelling down the Seine. You can even see the Eiffel tower - almost!
Railway Ride over the Tay Bridge Railway Ride over the Tay Bridge
Non-Fiction 1897 5 mins Silent Location: Tay Bridge
Stunning train's eye views across the Tay rail bridge from Fife to Dundee
Phantom Ride - Chamonix Phantom Ride - Chamonix
Non-Fiction 1900 2 mins Silent
Admire the view but don't look down, as this short film takes you on a breathtaking trip through the Alps
A Steamship Passes By A Steamship Passes By
Non-Fiction 1899 1 mins
With energetic waving of handkerchiefs to those on shore, a large steamship heads off
Steel 'n' Skin Steel 'n' Skin
Performance 1979 36 mins Location: Liverpool
Black music and culture in the community
S.S. Saxonia in Liverpool (1901) S.S. Saxonia in Liverpool (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 2 mins Silent Location: Liverpool
All ashore! Passengers disembark and crew offload after a long Atlantic crossing.
Who Helps the 'Home Help'? Who Helps the 'Home Help'?
Advert 1952 2 mins Location: Liverpool
Mrs Elizabeth Baker unwinds after a busy day with a nice cup of drinking chocolate.
Activities at the Sir Robert Jones Memorial Workshop for Cripples - Liverpool Activities at the Sir Robert Jones Memorial Workshop for Cripples - Liverpool
Charity appeal 1936 26 mins Silent Location: Liverpool
Bookbinding and a bagatelle: training for disabled people in the interwar years.
But Seriously But Seriously
Student film 1962 14 mins Location: Liverpool
It's a hard life being an misunderstood genius - I really should get out more.
Sphinx Reel - Highlights of Commem Week Sphinx Reel - Highlights of Commem Week
Student film 1952 12 mins Location: Liverpool
Student life and all that jazz - a visit to Liverpool University in1952.
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.