Famous Friends
- Synopsis
- A compilation of six films made by British Transport Films between 1952 and 1962. Volume 6 in the series.
- Series
- British Transport Films Collection, The: Series
- Language
- English
- Country
- Great Britain
- Year of release
- 2001
- Year of production
- 1952-1962
- Subjects
- History; Media studies
- Keywords
- archive films; British Transport Films
Distribution Formats
- Type
- VHS
- Format
- PAL
- Price
- £15.99 inclusive
- Availability
- Sale
- Duration/Size
- 92 min
- Year
- 2002
Sections
- Title
- John Betjeman goes by train
- Synopsis
- (1962) John Betjeman’s engaging personality enlivens this journey from King’s Lynn through the wide, flat fields of Norfolk to Hunstanton and the sea. En route we see the unusual half-timbered, unpostered station of Wolferton, the station for Sandringham, and the equally unexpected Snettisham, with its name inscribed in a box hedge.
- Duration
- 10 mins
- Title
- Artist looks at churches, An
- Synopsis
- (1959)The artist John Piper selects and describes a church built in each of the last nine centuries, from Norman times to the present day. He reveals the beauty and riches of architecture, decoration, carving and sculpture aged in mellow stone and weathered glass, and celebrates the inspirational skills of the wood carver and the sculptor.
- Duration
- 15 mins
- Technical information
- Colour
- Title
- Channel Islands
- Synopsis
- (1952)Malcolm Arnold provides the music for this leisurely exploration of the attractions offered by the Channel Islands and a glimpse into their history. Jersey is ideal for sport and relaxation, while Guernsey preserves something of a quieter, eighteenth-century atmosphere. The film ends with a journey by boat to Herm.
- Duration
- 15 mins
- Technical information
- Colour
- Title
- Journey into history
- Synopsis
- (1952) A celebration of the England of Hogarth, Gainsborough, Robert Adam and Captain Cook. As the camera moves across outstanding monuments of their work and relics of their achievements from Syon House to Greenwich, members of the Old Vic Company speak appropriate passages from the literature of the mid-eighteenth century. Score by Arnold Bax.
- Duration
- 10 mins
- Technical information
- Colour
- Title
- England of Elizabeth, The
- Synopsis
- (1957) Some of the visible traces of the first Elizabethan era are seen and the spirit of Tudor England is conjured up in a memorable commentary accompanied by a musical score by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
- Duration
- 25 mins
- Technical information
- Colour
- Title
- Third Sam, The
- Synopsis
- (1962) In this instructional film Sam Smith is taught to drive an electric locomotive. When his train breaks down, Sam summons up three aspects of his character to deal with the emergency: the nonchalant, the hysterical and, finally, the resourceful. With narration, in typical rhyming monologue, by Stanley Holloway.
- Duration
- 10 mins
- Title
- I am a litter basket
- Synopsis
- (1959) A first person narration by a hungry litter basket tired of being ignored daily by commuters who drop litter everywhere but in his gaping mouth. So he starts to forage...
- Duration
- 7 mins
Production Company
- Name
British Transport Films
- Notes
- Some BTF films are distributed by Beulah.
Distributor
- Name
BFI Video
- video.films@bfi.org.uk
- Web
- http://www.bfi.org.uk External site opens in new window
- Phone
- 020 7957 8957
- Fax
- 020 7957 8968
- Address
- 21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
Available from retail outlets
Record Stats
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