This film is part of Free
Day in Liverpool
Metropolis meets Merseyside, as this city-symphony inspired film portrays a city thriving with modernity.
Overview
Merseyside's metropolis is cast as a modernist masterpiece in this portrait documentary from 1929. Rather than focussing on any of its inhabitants, the film is a day in the life of the city itself - though capturing all the innovative perspectives and breath-taking views must have taken many weeks and much careful planning.
Inspired by the great European city symphonies of the 1920s, the film is a polished and innovative piece of filmmaking rather than an avant-garde classic like Ruttman's Berlin: Symphony of a City (1927) for example. It was paid for by 'The Liverpool Organisation' - a body formed by the city council and local industries to promote the area as a hub of industry and commerce - and was a rare venture into live-action filming for pioneer British animator Anson Dyer.
Related
Milton Keynes - A Village City Milton Keynes - A Village City
Cinemagazine 1973 8 mins Location: Milton Keynes
"The most exciting thing going on in Europe, if not the world": welcome to Milton Keynes circa 1973.
Portsmouth's Charlotte Street Market Portsmouth's Charlotte Street Market
Amateur film 1977 6 mins Silent Location: Portsmouth
The colourful bustle of Portsmouth's oldest street market features in this 1977 film – where traders and shoppers mix under the brooding presence of the infamous Tricorn Centre.
Telford Telford
School programme and Educational film 1977 9 mins Location: Telford
Six Shropshire villages combine and the new town of Telford is born.
Wolverhampton into the Seventies Wolverhampton into the Seventies
Documentary 1970 20 mins Location: Wolverhampton
Bricks and mortar makes way for concrete and reinforced steel as Wolverhampton sweeps the past aside in a modernist town planning utopia.
Chichester Tour Chichester Tour
Amateur film 1962 7 mins Silent Location: Chichester
A fascinating film showing the cathedral city of Chichester before the arrival of its ringroad and the pedestrianisation of its Roman streets.
Manchester Street Scenes (1901) Manchester Street Scenes (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 5 mins Silent Location: Manchester
A rare glimpse of early Edwardian Manchester when the horse-drawn tram still reigned supreme.
Steel 'n' Skin Steel 'n' Skin
Performance 1979 36 mins Location: Liverpool
Black music and culture in the community
S.S. Saxonia in Liverpool (1901) S.S. Saxonia in Liverpool (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 2 mins Silent Location: Liverpool
All ashore! Passengers disembark and crew offload after a long Atlantic crossing.
Who Helps the 'Home Help'? Who Helps the 'Home Help'?
Advert 1952 2 mins Location: Liverpool
Mrs Elizabeth Baker unwinds after a busy day with a nice cup of drinking chocolate.
Activities at the Sir Robert Jones Memorial Workshop for Cripples - Liverpool Activities at the Sir Robert Jones Memorial Workshop for Cripples - Liverpool
Charity appeal 1936 26 mins Silent Location: Liverpool
Bookbinding and a bagatelle: training for disabled people in the interwar years.
But Seriously But Seriously
Student film 1962 14 mins Location: Liverpool
It's a hard life being an misunderstood genius - I really should get out more.
Sphinx Reel - Highlights of Commem Week Sphinx Reel - Highlights of Commem Week
Student film 1952 12 mins Location: Liverpool
Student life and all that jazz - a visit to Liverpool University in1952.
Joanna Scanlan - Exclusive Q&A Joanna Scanlan - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 51 mins
Actor and writer Joanna Scanlan talks to Mia Bays, director of the BFI's Filmmaking Fund, about her career in film and television.
Baldwin's N***** Baldwin's N*****
Documentary 1969 44 mins
Horace Ové's striking portrait of the American writer James Baldwin at his sharp-witted best addressing a group of radical West Indian students in 1960s London.
Shoot Your Shot Shoot Your Shot
Drama 2022 12 mins
An emotional stand-off takes flight, as teen best friends Ronit and Brennan come to terms with navigating that fuzzy feeling in their stomachs, all whilst learning to skateboard.
Look Like You Look Like You
Drama 2022 13 mins
While visiting the adoptive family of her eight-year-old biological son, Tara relays advice she gathered from growing up as a queer outcast.
Yellow Yellow
Drama 2023 13 mins
In Taliban controlled Afghanistan, Laili walks into a Chadari store in Kabul to buy her first full body veil from a Talib shopkeeper and face a new future.
Nehemich Nehemich
Drama 2023 23 mins
Banished in a dilapidated village hut during her menstruation, a young girl waits to elope with her lover.