This film is part of Free
Bristol, British City
How a thousand years of history have helped the West Country capital to emerge from the blitz as a modern city of art and industry.
Overview
How a thousand years of history have helped the West Country capital to emerge from the blitz as a modern city of art and industry. Explore mid-century Bristol in this City Council-funded documentary journeying from Clifton to King Street; around Hotwells, the Floating Harbour, and out to the Avonmouth docks, taking stock of the city's 'great men' and monuments.
This film was commissioned to promote Bristol as a destination for industry, culture and development at the Festival of Britain in 1951. Unusually for the time, it was directed by a woman - Mary Francis. Francis had a short career as a director for World Wide Pictures, but this was her last film.
Related
Prince of Wales Prince of Wales
Non-Fiction 1928 3 mins Silent Location: Bristol
The future King Edward VIII takes to the waves at Bristol after opening a new dock extension
Dead Centre Dead Centre
Documentary 1958 9 mins Silent Location: Bristol
Blitz-scarred Bristol's redevelopment programme was blighted by a succession of disputes, explored in this campaigning film
Scillonian Sister Ship Scillonian Sister Ship
Current affairs 1964 1 mins Silent Location: Bristol
Work on the sister ship to the Scillonian is progressing in Bristol shipyard.
Bristol's Industries Bristol's Industries
Documentary 1939 21 mins Silent Location: Bristol
Aeroplanes, mops and cigarettes are all produced in "busy Bristol" - as illustrated in this action-packed short film
"Around and About" 1949 "Around and About" 1949
Amateur film 1949 25 mins Silent Location: Rumney
A summer of shows β Rumney Horse Show Society's Show, Vale of Glamorgan Agricultural Show, Usk Farmers' Club Show β and a visit to Bristol Zoo where children ride on an elephant.
Yeovil and Chard - Street Scenes Yeovil and Chard - Street Scenes
Amateur film 1931 1 mins Silent Location: Crewkerne
Madcap home movie road trip around south west England - speeding through rural Somerset and Dorset up to Bristol.
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.