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
Street scenes in Shanghai
A Dragon Festival tops the bill in this atmospheric look at life in the streets, parks and harbourside of 1930s Shanghai.
From the collection of:
Overview
This film captures life in Shanghai and in the surrounding countryside. Street performers, acrobats and a 'human pile-driver' are seen hard at work. A Dragon Festival passes through the streets while Europeans converse with Chinese peasants. City dwellers of all nations relax in Shanghai's parks as street traffic gives way to a river cruise. Gliding past a variety of river traffic, dainty bridges and hill-top pagodas we return to see junks at their moorings in Shanghai.
Richard Martin, the maker of this film, was a member of the Shanghai Municipal Police, which acted independently of any Chinese jurisdiction in the city's International Settlement. Though China and Japan were engaged in vicious fighting in other parts of the Chinese mainland it was not until the 8th December 1941 that Japan finally invaded the previously neutral International Settlement thus completing their occupation of Shanghai in its entirety. However, it was not until 1943 that all American and European citizens of belligerent countries, who were resident in Shanghai, were finally sent to internment camps by the Japanese occupiers. Richard Martin was himself interned in Poodong Camp in 1942.
Related
Watch for free
Nankin Road, Shanghai Nankin Road, Shanghai
Non-Fiction 1901 1 mins Silent Location: Nanjing Lu (Nanking Road)
An extraordinary window on to the cosmopolitan heart of Shanghai - Nanjing Road - over a hundred years ago.
Watch for free
High Jinks High Jinks
Non-Fiction 1929 1 mins Silent Location: Shanghai
All the fun of the fair: lovely, lively record of 'Shanghai's Coney Island'.
Watch for free
A City of Chaos A City of Chaos
Non-Fiction 1927 1 mins Silent Location: Shanghai
Scenes of panic on the streets of Shanghai as Chinese citizens seek protection from Communist and Kuomintang violence behind Allied barricades.
Watch for free
Riverside Scenes China Riverside Scenes China
Amateur film 1922 2 mins Silent Location: Bund
Four exquisite panoramic views of the Bund in Shanghai show life on the Huangpu River.
Watch for free
The Bradford Dyers Association's Offices in Shanghai and Messing About in the Courtyard The Bradford Dyers Association's Offices in Shanghai and Messing About in the Courtyard
Amateur film 1929 2 mins Silent Location: Shanghai
Work and play definitely mix in this short film featuring the staff of the Bradford Dyers Association's Shanghai office.
Watch for free
A Chinese Boat Trip and Views of Shanghai A Chinese Boat Trip and Views of Shanghai
Amateur film 1934 9 mins Silent Location: Shanghai
The famous waterfront of 1930s Shanghai is the star of this tantalising film which captures the bustling street life of China's most cosmopolitain city.
Watch for free
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!
Watch for free
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
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.