The Box is a major cultural and heritage attraction and archive, which opened in Plymouth’s city centre in September 2020. Its collection, formally the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), is the regional film archive for the South West of England, comprising the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and Television South West (TSW). It also includes a significant number of donated film collections dating back to the early 1890s.
This film is part of Free
Burn Your Bra!
The Women’s Liberation movement’s burn your bra campaign hits Truro.
In partnership with:
Overview
TV reporter Andy Price interviews women on the streets of Truro about whether they would figuratively burn the bra. A concern is raised as to whether the undergarment is under serious threat from feminists and women alike or if it will survive to enjoy an uplifting future. Bra burning became a metaphor for the Women’s Liberation Movement, which sprang up across the USA in the late 1960s and signified freedom from male oppression spawning a renewed drive for gender equality.
Bra burning actually never happened. A group of 400 feminists led a protest at Miss America 1969 which was held in September 1968 in Atlantic City, New Jersey and attempted to burn symbols of female oppression in a freedom bin mimicking conscripts burning their draft cards in protest over the Vietnam war. Journalist Lindsy Van Gelder drew the comparison between the two protests and hit the headlines the world over with the title grabbing Bra Burners And Miss America.
Related
Good Strong Coffee Good Strong Coffee
Advert 1968 2 mins Silent
Far-out guys and groovy gals drop doses of good strong coffee in this psychedelic 1968 ad for the hot black stuff.
Glastonbury Festival and the First Pyramid Stage Glastonbury Festival and the First Pyramid Stage
Current affairs 1971 5 mins Location: Glastonbury
Glastonbury ley lines for iconic pyramid stage to heighten a festival-goer’s experience
Punk In 60 Seconds Punk In 60 Seconds
Promotional 2016 1 mins
Anarchy in the UK… This rare footage presents a short blast of the punk energy that took over the streets of Britain in the late 1970s.
Discomania Discomania
Drama 1979 24 mins Location: London
Nerdy teenage mummy's boy David dreams of wowing the girls with his disco dance moves - but alas he was born with two left feet.
Dr Turner's Mental Home Dr Turner's Mental Home
Amateur film 1929 8 mins Silent Location: Ham Spray Ho
The wilder fringes of the Bloomsbury Group are exposed in this dark amateur film starring Dora Carrington.
Shellshock Rock Shellshock Rock
1979 48 mins Location: Belfast
The Undertones and Stiff Little Fingers play live in this vivid music doc capturing all the vibrancy of the 1970s Northern Irish punk scene.
Exotic Pet Shop Exotic Pet Shop
Current affairs 1981 4 mins Location: Truro
A shop owner in Truro sells unusual pets.
Scenes on the Cornish Riviera Scenes on the Cornish Riviera
Advert 1912 19 mins Silent Location: Plymouth
From Saltash to St Ives, a whirlwind tour of Edwardian Cornwall.
Compton Castle of Truro Compton Castle of Truro
News 1982 3 mins Location: Compton Castle
The old paddle steamer still has legs.
Truro Carnival Week Truro Carnival Week
Current affairs 1932 4 mins Silent Location: Truro
Trurorians enjoy street carnival celebrations
Carlyon Farm Carlyon Farm
Current affairs 1965 6 mins Location: Truro
Clive Gunnell reports from Carlyon Farm
Truro to Falmouth on the Maritime Line Truro to Falmouth on the Maritime Line
Current affairs 1976 8 mins Location: Truro
Journey on the Great Scenic Railway from Truro to Falmouth
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.