National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Holidays, Jolly Days and Happy Ways
A Frenchman, writing in the 1600s, thought that the English took their pleasures “sadly”. Harold Cox, filming holidaymakers in Wales in 1939, is determined to prove him wrong.
From the collection of:
Overview
"The English take their pleasures sadly, after the fashion of their country." So wrote the Duc de Sully (1560-1641), a French statesman, in his memoirs and Harold Cox, the film-maker, wonders if this is so. The title he has given to his film - which shows seaside activities in the Barmouth area, a carnival, the launch of the new Barmouth life-boat and farm work - suggests he thinks otherwise.
Harold Cox ran a music business in Birmingham and was a regular visitor to Dyffryn Ardudwy where he and his brother had neighbouring bungalows built for themselves for holidaying in and, later, retirement. Harold was renowned locally for the distinctive woollen garments he wore that he produced on his knitting machine. The life-boat footage shows the launch by Lady Harlech of the new Barmouth life-boat - the 'Lawrence Ardern, Stockport' – on 8/8/1939. It was funded by a legacy from Mrs. M.A. Ardern, of Prestbury, Cheshire. A month after the launch, war broke out and during its duration the life-boat was launched on service 30 times, mainly attending aircraft that had crashed in to the sea.
Related
Watch for free
Local Cinema Advertisements - North Wales Local Cinema Advertisements - North Wales
Advert 1965 5 mins Location: Blaenau Ffestiniog
Trefro's Milk Bar, Ruthin, has lovable eclairs and the Taj Mahal Indian restaurants in Caernarfon and Bangor offer tables of enchantment!
Watch for free
Away but by No Means Resting Away but by No Means Resting
Non-Fiction 1922 1 mins Silent Location: Criccieth
PM David Lloyd George gets outdoors, hoeing potatoes in Criccieth, Wales
Watch for free
Along the Cambrian Coast Along the Cambrian Coast
Travelogue 1930 3 mins Silent Location: Barmouth/Abermaw
Stencil coloured coastline of Wales
Watch for free
North Wales Camping Holiday North Wales Camping Holiday
Home movie 1967 17 mins Silent Location: Criccieth
The open road: Mrs Morgan of Pontypridd shows her talent for picnic-ing in style, being able to produce fresh chips, a pot of tea and buttered rolls at the roadside.
Watch for free
Criccieth Beach, Aug. 1938 Criccieth Beach, Aug. 1938
Home movie 1938 13 mins Silent Location: Criccieth
A J Sylvester, David Lloyd George’s private secretary, here catches the ex-British prime minister at leisure, with his family in Blaenau Ffestiniog and his apples in Surrey.
Watch for free
Yr Etifeddiaeth/The Heritage Yr Etifeddiaeth/The Heritage
Home movie 1949 48 mins Location: Llangybi
Staring a Butlin’s holiday camp in the face at Pwllheli (capacity: 5,000) can the Welsh in this area maintain the faith, language and traditions of their fathers?
Watch for free
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Watch for free
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Watch for free
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.
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.