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
Colonial Wedding
Cloche-hatted wedding guests, armed with confetti, lie in wait for the newly weds as they exit from a Shanghai church while their limousine gets the treatment.
From the collection of:
Overview
This short film shows an expat wedding in Shanghai. The couple are probably Nancy and George Bowler who were friends and colleagues of William and Charlotte Simpson. It was William who filmed the raucous goings on outside the church while the couple were still inside. The limousine, complete with smiling Chinese chauffeur, and rented from the Joffre Garage, gets the traditional treatment reserved for such occasions.
William Simpson, who made this film, worked for the Bradford Dyers Association in Shanghai, at Number 1, The Bund. His wife Charlotte was born in China's Lushan mountains and she married William, who originally came from Bradford, in Shanghai's St Ignatius Roman Catholic Cathedral. The couple left Shanghai before the city was overrun by the Japanese Army and by 1938 had left China for good.
Related
Princess Di Wedding and Winter Snow Princess Di Wedding and Winter Snow
Amateur film 1982 4 mins Location: Harrow
Everyone's home in Harrow to witness Lady Di's debut as a Royal and a record-breaking winter causes chaos in 1981.
The Best Man The Best Man
Comedy 1986 83 mins Location: Derry / Londonderry
The bar flies prepare for the big day with betting, boozing and banter. But will best man Billy break more than his maβs heart before the wedding?
Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten
1947 1 mins Silent
Royal nuptials at Westminster Abbey, attended by the great and good including King George VI and Winston Churchill
The Royal Wedding The Royal Wedding
Non-Fiction 1923 5 mins Silent
The wedding of Queen Elizabeth II's future parents, as later incarnated by Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter in 'The King's Speech'.
Princess Mary Wedded to Viscount Lascelles at Westminster Abbey Princess Mary Wedded to Viscount Lascelles at Westminster Abbey
Non-Fiction 1922 8 mins Silent
Newsreel of the lavish royal marriage, which was probably the biggest British newsreel story of the decade.
Princess Mary's Thought Princess Mary's Thought
Non-Fiction 1922 1 mins Silent
The sartorial build up to the lavish nuptials of Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles in 1922.
21 Days in China - a British teacher's impressions 21 Days in China - a British teacher's impressions
Non-Fiction 1972 6 mins Location: Shanghai
"Education must be combined with productive labour", so says a Chinese slogan. Western cameras are special guests to capture 70s school days - eastern style!
Shanghai c.1932 Shanghai c.1932
Amateur film 1932 46 mins Silent Location: Shanghai
Join the Eng family on the long journey by ship from Europe to Shanghai, China
A Visit to Fuzhou with the Bradford Dyers Association and Shanghai Views A Visit to Fuzhou with the Bradford Dyers Association and Shanghai Views
Amateur film 1929 4 mins Silent Location: Shanghai
The bustling waterways of rural Fouzhou contrast sharply with the frenetic pace of life in Shanghai, as seen in this atmospheric film from the late 1920s.
Life in Shanghai Life in Shanghai
Amateur film 1933 17 mins Silent Location: Shanghai
A Dragon procession, a Japanese beer festival, two duck shoots and a day at the races all feature in this remarkable film from 1930s Shanghai.
At Home in Shanghai and a Trip to Hong Kong At Home in Shanghai and a Trip to Hong Kong
Amateur film 1928 4 mins Silent Location: Shanghai
Chinese junks and British battleships appear together in this film depicting the 1928 Armistice Day in Hong Kong.
Outward Bound through the Suez Canal and on to Shanghai Outward Bound through the Suez Canal and on to Shanghai
Amateur film 1938 10 mins Silent Location: Shanghai
Travel in luxury on the 'slow boat to China' in this remarkable film from 1938, passing through the Suez Canal to Hong Kong, Shanghai and beyond.
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.
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.
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 Archiveβs role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
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.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.