This film is part of Free
Housing Makes History
Residents of Barnet and Stockton-on-Tees are the lucky beneficiaries of a government scheme to remedy Britain’s housing problem.
Overview
Mrs Dobson of 44 Alliance Road, Stockton-on-Tees, is the envy of the street when her back-to-back home is selected, along with three neighbouring houses, as a test case for the government's new housing improvement scheme, 'Operation Rescue'. Out with the old tin bath and outside lavatory - in with the shiny enamelled white bathroom suite replete with free-flowing hot water.
With a running time of 18 minutes and lengthy introductory address to camera by Harold MacMillan, the Minister of Housing, this promotional film for the Conservative Party is a far cry from the pithy political party broadcasts of today. Macmillan was MP for Stockton-on-Tees for twenty years and so had a special affinity with the town. New homes in the north London borough of Barnet are also showcased.
Related
Out of the Rubble Out of the Rubble
Short documentary 2016 18 mins
Visionary filmmaker Penny Woolcock explores half a century of British urban life using films digitised for Britain on Film, the archive project from BFI and its partner archives.
Ladywood Redevelopment Ladywood Redevelopment
News 1965 7 mins Location: Ladywood
The tattered wallpaper of part demolished housing contrasts with gleaming new tower blocks. Ladywood in Birmingham may be on the up but what about the forgotten people?
New Towns for Old New Towns for Old
Documentary 1942 6 mins Location: Sheffield
Sheffield stands in as 'Smokedale', an industrial Everytown, in this stirring call for "new schools, new hospitals, new roads, new life", after WWII.
A City Reborn A City Reborn
Documentary 1945 22 mins Location: Coventry
Coventry prepares to rise from the ashes of WWII in this docu-drama written by Dylan Thomas.
Rotherham up to Date Rotherham up to Date
Promotional 1961 39 mins Location: Rotherham
An absorbing picture of council services at the beginning of the 1960s, with babies getting polio jabs and girls having braces fitted, while Roots is playing at the Civic Theatre.
Bull Ring Shopping Centre Bull Ring Shopping Centre
Documentary 1965 26 mins Silent Location: Birmingham
A bright and breezy promotional tour of Brum's original mega-mall.
A Corner of Barnet Fair A Corner of Barnet Fair
Non-Fiction 1896 2 mins Silent Location: Barnet
Two for the price of one! Two items were joined together on this reel, discovered among a small haul of early films and fragments discovered and donated to the BFI in the 1990s. The first is believed to be Birt Acres' A Corner of Barnet Fair.
Band Marching down a Street Band Marching down a Street
Non-Fiction 1897 0 mins Silent Location: Barnet
A uniformed marching band takes to the street in this early film by pioneer cinematographer Birt Acres
London cinemas and an Open Day at Ealing Studios London cinemas and an Open Day at Ealing Studios
Amateur film 1989 6 mins Location: Barnet
Relive over 70 years of film making as the BBC throws open its doors at Ealing Studios for a nostalgic exhibition which features cameras, actors, jazzy wigs and a Dalek
Change in Friern Barnet Change in Friern Barnet
Amateur film 1970 20 mins Silent Location: Barnet
Tour Friern Barnet and explore the streets, local happenings and developments in an area undergoing rapid change
Brunswick Bridge Brunswick Bridge
Amateur film 1970 11 mins Silent Location: Barnet
Bridge building on the busy streets of London as the construction of Brunswick Bridge in Barnet is captured for posterity
Around Barnet Around Barnet
Amateur film 1984 9 mins Silent Location: Barnet
An amateur recording of social housing developments, local streets and businesses in Friern, Barnet.
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.