Empire in Britain

In the rhetoric of Empire, Great Britain was the ‘Mother Country’: the ideological, economic and geographical reference point against which life in the colonies was to be measured. Many of these films attempt to show British life to colonial audiences, and often use the device of positioning a colonial subject in Britain. The visitor often plays the role of either a spellbound tourist made welcome in the heart of Empire, or alternatively as an Imperial citizen, warmly embraced within British society. Wartime films typically highlight the contribution made by colonial subjects to the war effort in Britain, and whether they are for British or colonial audiences, these pictures too hope to present the metropole as a welcoming place that appreciates and accepts the people of the Empire.

 
 
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SPOTLIGHT ON THE COLONIES (1950)has video enhanced entry

"This is a brief survey of progress made by the British Government in helping forty separate colonial territories to raise ...

 

COLONIAL MONTH (1949)has video enhanced entry

Coverage of the Colonial Exhibition in Oxford Street held during Colonial Month in the summer of 1949 to 'spread the ...

 

NIGERIAN FOOTBALLERS IN ENGLAND (1949)has video enhanced entry

Coverage of the 18 strong Nigerian football team, the first ever to leave West Africa, who played nine matches in ...

 

AFRICAN CONFERENCE IN LONDON 1948 (1948)has video enhanced entry

Intended for African audiences, the films shows the opening of the African Conference in London in September 1948 and the ...

 

COLONIAL CINEMAGAZINE NO.9 (1947)has video enhanced entry

'London: This magazine is devoted to the activities of the Gold Coast Band during their visit to the U.K. The ...

 

VICTORY PARADE (1946) enhanced entry

Colonial troops in England for the Victory Parade on 8 June 1946.

Colonial troops arrive in Britain for the Victory Parade. ...

 

LEARIE CONSTANTINE (1945) enhanced entry

A profile of the West Indian cricketer Learie Constantine, showing him at work as a welfare officer in Liverpool and ...

 

SPRINGTIME IN AN ENGLISH VILLAGE (1944)has video enhanced entry

A young African girl is crowned the May Queen in the village of Stanion, Northamptonshire.

The film opens with shots of ...

WEST INDIES CALLING

WEST INDIES CALLING (1943)has video enhanced entry

Film records and illustrates a BBC broadcast by West Indians in Britain to explain to the British people ...

 

NEWFOUNDLANDERS AT WAR (1941) enhanced entry

A picture of the contribution made to Britain's war effort by people from Newfoundland.

The film, which has throughout ...

 

MR. ENGLISH AT HOME (1940)has video enhanced entry

A day in the life of a 'typical' English family. Intended for African distribution.

After an opening shot of a policeman ...

 

HEART OF AN EMPIRE (1935)has video enhanced entry

St. James's Park and its environs.

Opening LS view of St. James's Park, Piccadilly; traffic passing Marble Arch (92). Entrance to ...

 

PAGEANT OF EMPIRE (1933) enhanced entry

Empire Day Pageant at the Southern Railway Servants' Orphanage at Woking. Children dressed in scout and guide uniforms parade with ...

ONE FAMILY

ONE FAMILY (1930)has video enhanced entry

A London schoolboy dreams he visits Buckingham Palace, where he makes the King's Christmas pudding from ingredients collected from different ...

 

ROLLICKING RAJAH (1914) enhanced entry

Title card: "Vivaphone" Film. Title card: 'The Rollicking Rajah'. First verse and chorus of 'The Rolling Rajah'. The film set ...

 

PRESTON'S EMPIRE DAY (1909)has video enhanced entry

A record of the Preston Empire Day celebration of 22 May 1909.

A title introduces 'Preston Empire Day May 22nd 1909. ...

 

LANDING OF SAVAGE SOUTH AFRICA AT SOUTHAMPTON (1899)has video enhanced entry

Members of the 'Savage South Africa' troupe at Southampton Docks.

The film shows a group of Africans (Zulus) in full tribal ...