ACTUALITY ITEMS
This film is held by the BFI (ID: 15012).
Synopsis
CINEMAGAZINE(?) London scenes round Fleet Street; a brief dramatised history of the British policeman; tribal dances.
No title. View across Fleet St with stone arch leading to Middle Temple, the half-timbered Prince Henry's Room half-seen above, spectators, traffic, an open-staired bus (28). The Old Curiosity Shop (34). Various shots of the Inns of Courts (68). "In former days..." Three 17th century villains plot with the Watchman to rob a cavalier and his lady in the street. The cavalier is killed in the ensuing swordfight and the lady faints. The thieves share the loot with the Watchman (215). The costumed Watchman "in our modern surroundings" is teased by four modern boys who call him BEAVER!! Shot of whiskered mask (265). An 1829 bobby transforms into a modern bobby (275). "Due to this gentleman we can go about our evening's recreation" (288). High angle shot of couples waltzing in fancy dress. A balloon-waving Roman Bacchanal circles the floor (Chelsea Arts Ball?) (302). Elegant couples waltz in hotel(?) (325). "...dancing in the far east..." (345). Two rows of Indonesians(?) perform a swaying, hand-on-hip, knee-bending dance under an awning with spectators and a temple beyond (383). "...in Africa, the Kroo girls". Eight smiling women (Orange Free State Province, South Africa), turbanned and dressed to the nines, exuberantly jump up and down with palm trees beyond (410). "As for the Hausa girls..." Nigerian Hausa girls in wraparound dresses repeatedly leap in the air and land on their behinds in front of musicians and spectators (483).
Note: This is thrown together from stock material with excruciatingly patronising `linking' intertitles.