British Newsreels, 1911-1930

AM’s innovative platform brings together a digitised collection of the existing Topical Budget newsreel films, preserved by the BFI National Archive and Imperial War Museums, accompanied by contextual and pedagogical features from experts in the fields of early film history and early twentieth century society, and fully accessible descriptive transcripts for each film.

Highlights

• ‘Blinded Soldiers Playing Push Ball’ which shows one of the ways in which injured and disabled war veterans were rehabilitated
• 'That Broadcast “Revolution”!’ – a film depicting actors recording a radio play and demonstrating techniques used to create sound effects providing an interesting insight into the interaction of early film with the development of broadcasting
• 'Ruin in the Ruhr’ – a film highlighting the desolation in Düsseldorf following the reported partial evacuation by French occupying forces following the First World War. The title card making the bold claim that ‘”Topical” has no politics’
• 'Eclipse of the Moon’ – documenting a lunar eclipse; showing some of the equipment that was used and a surprisingly detailed close-up of the Moon as seen through the world’s longest telescope at the time
• 'Canine Heroes’ – dogs who participated in the rescue of sailors from a stricken warship are honoured at Crufts
• 'Prince’s Bold Bid for Privacy on Holiday’ showing press attempts to photograph and film the Prince of Wales going on holiday. Turning the episode into an interesting piece in its own right with a diagram demonstrating how it was believed the Prince was able to evade the press. Resonating with modern relationships between the British Royal Family and the world’s press.