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
Fred James Collection: Our First Film, Woodford Wells
Deck chair wrestling and DIY feature in this home movie shot by Fred James, as he gets to grips with his new camera in 1955.
From the collection of:
Overview
Woodford Wells resident and amateur photographer Fred James made numerous home movies all over Europe, but his first attempt at film-making was this 17-minute look at his house, No 4 Dale Gardens, and home town – shot by Bell & Howell camera in black & white and colour. As such, it’s a charming picture of the 1950s outer London suburbs, featuring guest appearances by his wife, stepmother, friends and in-laws, as well as some interesting scenes of the local high street.
During the film James experiments with different angles and styles and features a comical scene with a deckchair, but, when looking back at the film in 1975, would admit some technical faults. In mitigation, he pointed out that it was ‘edited by being drawn across a battery torch light whiles I clenched a watchmaker’s magnifier in my eye’. Like all films by Fred James, it is part of the Redbridge Archive.
Related
Watch for free
Fred James Collection: Local Colour, Woodford Wells and Epping Forest Fred James Collection: Local Colour, Woodford Wells and Epping Forest
Amateur film 1971 28 mins Silent Location: Woodford Wells
A staggering drunk, cavorting squirrel and bicycling children paint a picture of the London-Essex borders in 1971 in this home movie by Fred James.
Watch for free
Fred James Collection: Here And There (Reel 2), Torquay, Brixham and Essex Fred James Collection: Here And There (Reel 2), Torquay, Brixham and Essex
Amateur film 1955 17 mins Silent Location: Woodford Wells
Some tree pruning and a seaworthy replica of the Mayflower feature in this eclectic home movie filmed by Woodford Wells resident Fred James.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.