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
Union Street on a Saturday Night
Punters gather for a night out on Plymouth’s famed Union Street.
In partnership with:
Overview
Union Street in Plymouth is a night-time hotspot and the square mile boasts thirty pubs, two strip clubs and the redlight district with some fifteen to thirty prostitutes. The area is patrolled by the military and local police. Licensing laws push punters at pub closing time to carry on drinking in the night clubs. Punters include a mixture of locals, dockworkers and sailors from all around the world. Union Street is a firm favourite with British service personnel.
The street is the longest and straightest in Plymouth and was originally built in the first quarter of the nineteenth century by London architect John Foulston as part of the plan to connect the three towns of Plymouth, Devonport and East Stonehouse. Originally an affluent area, it soon became the hub for the city’s nightlife. In the 1930s surrounding streets were closed by police to keep servicemen and workers from the docks entering the city centre and by the 1960s the area was well-known for its adult entertainment as a go-go and at times, a no-go area. Today it is less popular at night and a conservation area. Regeneration is slowly bringing Union Street back to a life less dependent on the night-time economy.
Related
Watch for free
A Woman Undressing A Woman Undressing
Pornography 1896 1 mins Silent
A treat for Victorian voyeurs - and Britain's oldest erotic film?
Watch for free
Dream Doll Dream Doll
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1979 12 mins Silent
A relationship liable to blow up at any moment is at the heart of this animated short about a man and an inflatable sex doll
Watch for free
Moment Moment
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1969 12 mins
An intimate, unusual encounter with the progressive narrative of orgasm.
Currently unavailable
The Sex Victims The Sex Victims
Horror 1973 37 mins
A truck driver thinks he’s in luck when he meets a strange girl by the road in this supernatural horror short
Watch for free
Beauty in Brief Beauty in Brief
Drama 1955 4 mins Silent Location: London
A young bride-to-be models a modish nylon nightie before a voyeuristic camera in this silent 1950s striptease film.
Watch for free
Xcitement! Xcitement!
Pornography 1960 5 mins Silent
Glamour goddess Pamela Green reveals all in a key ‘60s striptease collaboration with George Harrison Marks.
Watch for free
Dingles of Plymouth Dingles of Plymouth
Advert 1960 1 mins Location: Plymouth
A charming regional commercial for Plymouth’s best loved department store.
Watch for free
Millbay Laundry Millbay Laundry
Advert 1960 0 mins Location: Plymouth
Help keep your relationship on track by outsourcing your laundry!
Watch for free
Model Clipper Sailor Model Clipper Sailor
Current affairs 1965 2 mins Location: Plymouth
Former shipwright turns his talents to model-making.
Watch for free
Comely Caviar Comely Caviar
Current affairs 1984 1 mins Location: Plymouth
Reporter tests the theory of caviar heightening libido.
Watch for free
Last Cooper Last Cooper
Current affairs 1967 5 mins Location: Plymouth
The last apprenticed cooper in the Royal Navy’s Royal William Victualling Yard undergoes a trusso, an ancient rite of passage.
Watch for free
Liberté Liner Liberté Liner
Current affairs 1961 5 mins Location: Plymouth
Cruising into the history books SS Liberté makes its final voyage stopping at Plymouth en route to Le Havre.
Watch for free
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Watch for free
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.
Watch for free
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.
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.