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
Racing on the Menai Strait
Only a dull land lubber could fail to appreciate these yachts in full sail, and the steam yacht Minona (later Richard Burton’s ‘Kalizma’)!
From the collection of:
Overview
These 5 short films offer superb shots of sail boats at various locations around Anglesey: Puffin Island, the Gazelle Hotel near Glyngarth, Bangor’s Garth Pier, Trwyn Du Lighthouse at Penmon Point, Penmon Quarry, the Britannia Bridge, Holyhead Breakwater Lighthouse, and Twr Bach and Twr Mawr lighthouses, Llanddwyn. The highlight, though, is the elegant steam yacht Minona, later bought by Richard Burton for Elizabeth Taylor and re-named Kalizma!
These films were shot by Isla Johnston whose home - ‘Bryn Mêl’, Glyngarth – overlooked the Menai Strait. Daughter of Edmund Johnston, owner of the Liverpool-based Johnston Line shipping company [from 1934 the Johnston-Warren Lines company], Isla loved cars and boats, often racing in the latter, and filmed and photographed sailing and other local events. The 5 films appear in this order: Bangor Racing May 26th (1930s), Beaumaris Racing (1932), Race Around Puffin Island (1933), On the Swillies (1929) and Minona (1931). The Minona (aka Cortynia and Odysseia), launched in 1906, was used by the Navy in both WWI and WWII before its acquisition by Richard Burton in 1967.
Related
Watch for free
Grounded on the Platters: HMS Conway Grounded on the Platters: HMS Conway
Home movie 1953 7 mins Silent Location: Anglesey/Ynysmôn
A sorry end to any ship: timings, tide and wind played their part in pushing HMS Conway onto the Platters rocks in the Menai Strait on 14/4/1953.
Watch for free
Ambling through Anglesey Ambling through Anglesey
Amateur film 1946 5 mins Silent Location: Beaumaris
Ambling Scottish ramblers, members of The Countryside Club, enjoy Anglesey at a leisurely pace.
Watch for free
PS St Elvies, Flying Boats and PS Snowdon PS St Elvies, Flying Boats and PS Snowdon
Home movie 1930 2 mins Silent Location: Menai Strait/Afon Menai
On the Menai Strait: boats that paddle or fly with a certain charisma, and a yacht that glides which became the Kalizma!
Watch for free
North Wales, England: The Land of Castles and Waterfalls North Wales, England: The Land of Castles and Waterfalls
Travelogue 1907 15 mins Silent Location: Chester
An Edwardian excursion along the crenelated coast of North Wales from the walls of Chester to the wilds of Snowdonia.
Watch for free
Menai Strait Regatta, Amlwch Station, Irish Trawler, Slate Train Port Dinorwic Menai Strait Regatta, Amlwch Station, Irish Trawler, Slate Train Port Dinorwic
Non-Fiction 1960 15 mins Silent Location: Menai Strait/Afon Menai
Sail (regatta, and Irish trawler hauling in whiting), rail (children and piglets at Amlwch Station) and slate (last slate train at Port Dinorwic).
Watch for free
Dr Kate Dr Kate
Home movie 1969 19 mins Silent Location: Menai Bridge/Porthaethwy
Giving and Taking: writer Kate Roberts bestows her childhood home – Cae’r Gors - on the nation, and Caernarfonshire Council moves to close Bryncroes School despite opposition.
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.