Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
Surrey Plays Australia at the Oval in 1934
There's Oval action as Surrey play the Aussies in 1934 - with batsmen and bowlers warming-up, looked on by fans, before battle commences
From the collection of:
Overview
This well-crafted film from 1934 features several cricket legends when Surrey take on the Australians at the Oval before large and appreciative crowds. Starting with some bowling and batting practise, overlooked by fans, we see the players getting their photos taken by press photographers as they stride onto the pitch. Rain stops play during the match but it soon resumes and ends in a draw.
In March 2016 the Victorian gasholder which dominates the Oval cricket ground skyline was granted Grade II listed status. Made from wrought iron, it was the largest gasholder in the world when built in 1847. It was rebuilt in the late 1870s, just before the Oval hosted the first Test match in England in 1880 and it has been a feature of the venue ever since.
Related
Watch for free
West Indies Cricketers in Norwich, 1939 West Indies Cricketers in Norwich, 1939
Home movie 1939 1 mins Silent Location: Lakenham
Vintage amateur film of the West Indies cricket team in Norwich; part of their 1939 tour of England.
Watch for free
New Zealand Cricket Team New Zealand Cricket Team
News 1965 4 mins Location: Worcester
Worcester, riding high as England's cricket county champions, prepare to face the 'unfashionable' Kiwis.
Watch for free
Australian Women’s Cricket Team at Exmouth Australian Women’s Cricket Team at Exmouth
News 1976 4 mins Location: Exmouth
The Australian Women’s Team tour England in the hot summer of 1976
Watch for free
Alec Bedser Cricket Home Movies: MCC Tour of Australia 1954 Alec Bedser Cricket Home Movies: MCC Tour of Australia 1954
Amateur film 1954 52 mins Silent
The voyage, the camaraderie, the matches, the sights: the whole experience of a 1950s tour down under is here.
Watch for free
Second Test at Lord's Second Test at Lord's
Non-Fiction 1926 1 mins Silent
England battered by Bardsley in the second Test against Australia at Lord's
Watch for free
MCC in West Indies 1948 MCC in West Indies 1948
Amateur film 1948 25 mins Silent
The England cricket team enjoy the best of the West Indies on their 1948 tour.
Watch for free
Cartoons by Hiscocks Cartoons by Hiscocks
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1926 4 mins Silent Location: Oval, The
Short animation of a comic duel between English batsman Patsy Hendren and Australian bowler Arthur Mailey at the Kennington Oval.
Watch for free
The First Century of the Season The First Century of the Season
Non-Fiction 1920 0 mins Silent Location: Oval, The
Surrey batsman Jack Hobbs gets in some batting practice, with team mate Bert Strudwick keeping wicket.
Watch for free
Yorks Draw with Surrey Yorks Draw with Surrey
Non-Fiction 1922 0 mins Silent Location: Oval, The
Surrey play Yorkshire at the Oval as the 1922 County Championship nears its conclusion.
Watch for free
The Open Road The Open Road
Travelogue 2006 65 mins Location: Land's End
Startling colour photography of 1920s Britain imbues Claude Friese-Greene’s 1920s road trip around Britain.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.