This film is part of Free
Clyde River
A trip from source to sea along the banks of the Clyde in a lesser-spotted Scotland where the sun always shines.
Overview
The breathtaking views, bustling cities and picturesque towns seen in this travelogue of the Clyde River can still be guaranteed to any tourist today - if not the perpetual holiday-brochure sunshine. Refreshingly free of stereotypes, the film was made before WWII but re-released after, offering glimpses of RMS Queen Elizabeth awaiting launch and the shipyards before the Clydebank Blitz.
The film was produced by the publicity department of London, Midland and Scottish Railways in 1939 before events over took it. WWII changed the landscape of the country in many ways, not least politically, with a new peacetime Labour government merging Britain's 'Big Four' railway companies and nationalising them under the British Railways banner. In this version you can hear the commentator having to hop over some discrepancies between the pre-war images and the post-war realities experienced by the contemporary tourist.
Related
Rural Reconditioning Rural Reconditioning
Amateur film 1938 8 mins Silent Location: Lanark
Grand Designs of the 1930s: rural slums turned into country cottages with the help of government money.
Children's Excursion 1952 Children's Excursion 1952
Amateur film 1952 11 mins Silent Location: Biggar
Classic 1950s buses take the children of Moniaive for an adventure in Edinburgh, in this wonderful amateur film complete with fizzy pop, elephants and steam trains.
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.
Wrong Bathroom Wrong Bathroom
Drama 2024 9 mins
A trans high-schooler is tempted by toxic masculinity in the boys’ bathroom.
We’ll Go Down in History We’ll Go Down in History
Documentary 2025 25 mins
Two years in the life of TRUK United FC, a beacon for positive change and trans inclusivity in football.
If I Make It To The Morning If I Make It To The Morning
Drama 2024 9 mins
A Chinese teenager dreams of living with her cool aunt in New York, until tensions boil over during a crab dinner.
Dragfox Dragfox
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 8 mins
A child struggling with their identity and a charismatic fox (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen) learn to embrace their differences in this heart warming stop-motion animation.
Wait, Wait, Now! Wait, Wait, Now!
Drama 2024 13 mins
A Maori and a Kiwi teen buddy up to raid their mum’s wardrobe and pucker their lips with red.
NGGAK!!! NGGAK!!!
Drama 2024 8 mins
‘I pronounce you wife and wife.’ A young couple design their perfect wedding online, but then mum dials in.