Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
Once Upon a Farm
Beryl Armstrong's gently polemical film extolls the value of rare farm breeds, which could one day meet future challenges and demands
From the collection of:
Overview
This colour film, made by Beryl Armstrong, is both a commentary and critique of modern day farming methods. The film showcases a variety of rare breeds including ducks, goats, sheep, cattle, horses, poultry and pigs of all shapes, sizes and colours, with a little of their histories thrown in. Beryl argues that keeping such breeds alive ensures the survival of future livestock farming should anything happen to wipe out more standardised, intensively farmed breeds.
New Zealand born Beryl Armstrong has, in her lifetime, made well over 100 films, many of which capture various aspects of rural life in Sussex and Hampshire, from the 1960s to the 1990s. Beryl began making films while she was living in India and over the years entered many of her films into local amateur festivals and competitions. She also taught her sons Richard and Anthony, who appear in several of her films, the art of filmmaking. Both went on to create amateur film collections of their own ranging from short documentaries to comedies and animations. Beryl is also the successful author of twelve published novels.
Related
Watch for free
Wittering 1938 Wittering 1938
Amateur film 1938 18 mins Silent Location: Ottershaw
Join the Giles family and their friends on an idyllic seaside holiday by the Sussex coast - just a few months before the Munich Crisis
Watch for free
At the Seaside and Sailing At the Seaside and Sailing
Amateur film 1930 15 mins Silent Location: West Sussex
Thirties seaside holidays feature in this Albany Cine Club film - with families, dogs, pipe smokers and uncomfortable woolen swimwear
Watch for free
Fancy Dress Cricket and Beach Fun Fancy Dress Cricket and Beach Fun
Amateur film 1935 4 mins Silent Location: West Sussex
The arrival of summer means it's time for grown men to dress as ladies and play some raucous cricket - as Eric Norman's holiday camp film shows
Watch for free
Countryman's Diary Countryman's Diary
Amateur film 1950 14 mins Silent Location: West Sussex
Enjoy the changing colours of the Sussex countryside and the fruits of the season in this prize-winning lyrical film diary
Watch for free
Haytime Haytime
Amateur film 1946 11 mins Silent Location: West Sussex
Headmaster, A C Barnden, shows how farm machinery is a great boon at harvest time, in this film aimed at schoolchildren in his charge
Watch for free
Crawley & Horsham Foxhounds Crawley & Horsham Foxhounds
Amateur film 1966 6 mins Silent Location: West Sussex
Watch the Crawley & Horsham Hunt shakin' their livers in this lively film about fox-hunting and point-to-point racing made by Dora Harmer
Watch for free
All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.
Watch for free
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Watch for free
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.
Watch for free
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.
Watch for free
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.