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.
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 Archive’s 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.