Lost World of Mitchell & Kenyon, The

Synopsis

Between 1900-1913, filmmakers Mitchell & Kenyon roamed Northern England, Scotland and Ireland filming the everyday lives of people at work and play. For 70 years, 800 rolls of this early nitrate film sat in sealed barrels in the basement of a local shop in Blackburn. Now miraculously discovered and painstakingly restored by the British Film Institute, this ranks as the most exciting film discovery of recent times. Presented by Dan Cruickshank, the series opens up our past and includes interviews with descendents of some of those featured in the footage, who are seeing their ancestors on film for the first time.

Episode 1 - Life & Times
The films are discovered by Peter Worden and restored by the bfi’s National Film and Television Archive. The story of Mitchell and Kenyon begins with bustling streets at home and controversial war abroad.

Episode 2 - Sport & Pleasure
For the first time, the British worker starts enjoying new leisure, swelling crowds at football matches at Preston North End, Liverpool and Manchester United. People flock to holidays in Blackpool and to egg tosses at home.

Episode 3 - Saints & Sinners
To conclude this extraordinary series, we see the first ever crime reconstruction film, the success of Mitchell and Kenyon in the USA and the ultimate demise of their partnership.


DVD extras include commentary and filmed interview with Vanessa Toulmin of the National Fairground Archive; voiceover introduction written by film historian Tom Gunning, featurette on the restoration work by the National Film and Television Archive and a fully illustrated booklet.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Notes

Broadcast in 3 weekly parts on BBC2 from 14/1/05.
A second Mitchell & Kenyon DVD will be released in Spring 2005. ELECTRIC EDWARDIANS: THE FILMS OF MITCHELL & KENYON wiil feature highlights from the collection by theme.

Documentation

The Lost World of Mitchell & Kenyon - Edwardian Britain on Film published separately by bfi Publishing.

Subjects

Social Studies; History; Media studies

Keywords

social history; working classes; archive films

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£19.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

176 minutes

Year

2005

Sponsor

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributor

Name

BFI Video

Email

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