This film is part of Free
Travelling for a Living
This "musical profile of the Watersons" is a precious document of the British folk revival, much of it shot in their hometown, Hull.
Overview
"These are the Watersons, a very important part of the revival of traditional British music. They live in Hull." A British road movie of sorts, this rich and vital film follows the group on the folk club circuit, at home and in studios. It's rewarding on several levels - whether your main interest is Hull, the folk revival or documentary filmmaking - and repays repeated viewings. Seminal and superb.
Though not entirely above romanticism (Humberside isn't quite Yorkshire's answer to the Mississippi Delta), nor occasional swipes at 'pop' folk (B. Dylan included), the film, and the group, are admirably clear-eyed about English folk music: not a 'living form', only its 'still warm ashes'. Heading his own small production company, director Derrick Knight was a significant and underrated filmmaker who played a part in modernising British documentary's style. Though not pure 'direct cinema' (it has a narrator), this film is influenced by innovative French and American techniques: shooting on location with a lightweight easily moveable 16mm camera, avoiding artificial lighting and capturing sound in synch with picture. His company also crossed the boundaries between film and TV - by independently producing films broadcast on the box it was well ahead of its time. This one was shown on BBC2 on 21 May 1966, at 8:50pm.
Related
This Is Derby This Is Derby
Amateur film 1966 18 mins Silent Location: Derby
Nostalgic snapshot of the town of Derby in the mid 1960s.
The Nudists The Nudists
Current affairs 1971 9 mins Location: Devon
Country House offers naturists a way to air all.
Swansea, Victoria - Pontardulais Railway, 1964 (June) Swansea, Victoria - Pontardulais Railway, 1964 (June)
Amateur film 1964 12 mins Location: Pontarddulais
“It would be difficult to find a more lovely train journey”, declares Swansea’s Librarian, the film-maker and narrator. Prepare to be beguiled, station by station.
Elland Road Football Control Elland Road Football Control
Non-Fiction 1976 23 mins Silent Location: Leeds
Back to the bad old days of skinners, as worn by these Man. United troublemakers, being escorted by police dogs along that perilous walk from Elland Road to Leeds railway station.
Kingston in Decay? Kingston in Decay?
Amateur film 1976 9 mins Location: Kingston Upon Thames
An amatuer filmmaker takes a critical and somewhat tongue-in-cheek look at the changing face of Kingston upon Thames
We Do What We Can We Do What We Can
Drama 2019 9 mins
We Do What We Can is a film that looks at one of the miracles in the journey of diaspora Africans.
The Big Country The Big Country
Promotional 1970 16 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Tuning into the biggest consumer market for television advertising in Britain with Trident TV.
Trip to Wembley Trip to Wembley
Amateur film 1982 3 mins Silent Location: Kingston upon Hull
Fans celebrate as Hull FC take home the Rugby Challenge Cup trophy after the rematch declares their victory.
Preston Ladies Football and T.A. Volunteers Preston Ladies Football and T.A. Volunteers
Amateur film 1945 11 mins Silent Location: Preston
Playing the beautiful game - the ladies from Lancashire demonstrate their skills.
To Hull and Back To Hull and Back
Documentary 1983 26 mins Location: Kingston upon Hull
So much to see of Hull, with its great port, fishing history, historic showdown with Charles I, and two highly impressive public loos.
Oh Hull Oh Hull
Amateur film 1972 6 mins Location: Kingston upon Hull
A whole posse of jovial amateur filmmakers descend upon Hull to film many of the features now gone, such as the ferry and St Andrew’s fish docks.
The Port of Hull The Port of Hull
Documentary 1963 29 mins Silent Location: Kingston upon Hull
Dry facts meet aesthetic beauty in this industrial film showcasing Hull’s status as a thriving international port.
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.