Seeing vanished childhood London on film

[JonesBach]

It is so wonderful to see footage of roads and streets and areas from the times of your childhood in old films.



It takes you back to those familiar surroundings which, alas, have now vanished for ever.

[Sammy Rice]

Have you seen a documentary called The London No-One Sees ?(I Think). James Mason stars and narrates. I found it very interesting.

[Steve Crook]

name='Sammy Rice']Have you seen a documentary called The London No-One Sees ?(I Think). James Mason stars and narrates. I found it very interesting.

The London Nobody Knows (1967)



Steve

[Sammy Rice]

name='Steve Crook']The London Nobody Knows (1967)



Steve

That's him !

[Dandelion]

I have this film and although not from London I found it interesting nonetheless.

[JonesBach]

name='Sammy Rice']Have you seen a documentary called The London No-One Sees ?(I Think). James Mason stars and narrates. I found it very interesting.

Thanks for the tip on this film Sammy.

Spare the Rod shows footage as well and someone told me that Vera Drake shows footage too.

[LukeAFB]

Some 25 years ago, there was a television documentary called "The Under London Expedition" with Ranolph Twizzleton Wickham Feinnes and Liz Fraser (yes, the actress!) wandering round the London which certainly nobody, unless they're a troglodyte, knows. They took you round the sewers, old sewage pumping stations, disused tube lines and the catacombes of Highbury Cemetery. I still remember it well (no not the cemetery, the programme!). They eventually emerged from a manhole in Regents Street, much to the consternation of passers by. What I could never understand, though, was why Liz Fraser?

[Steve Crook]

name='LukeAFB']What I could never understand, though, was why Liz Fraser?

Because she was interested and is interesting?

Why shouldn't she do it?



Joseph Bazalgette is one of the heroes of London



Steve

[LukeAFB]

Steve,



I wasn't denigrating her. She just seemed to be somewhat out of place in that kind of programme. Having said that, from what I remember, she was quite good in it.

[Steve Crook]

name='LukeAFB']Steve,



I wasn't denigrating her. She just seemed to be somewhat out of place in that kind of programme. Having said that, from what I remember, she was quite good in it.

I think it's nice when someone unusual or unexpected does take an interest in things like that.



Like Suggs presenting the Disappearing London series where he travels around town meeting people and visiting places that are part of the ever changing face of our city



Steve

[cornershop15]

I'm a big fan of The London Nobody Knows myself. James Mason, my favourite film actor, is a superb guide. I'll write about that documentary on the relevant thread but I thought I'd point out that another interesting view of a disappearing London can be found on the Limelight DVD (Charlie Chaplin of course). It's among the extras and features colour footage of an old Charlie revisiting some of his childhood haunts for the first time in more than 30 years. I hope some of you get to see this precious footage someday.

[Rowdon]

There was a great youtube video I found when searching for something on Battersea Fun Fair, where I spent many a happy evening at the age of 6 or 7 ... it had Eric Sykes, Benny Hill and others and it's GAWN. No consideration, these people. This is all I could find ... do you have a better way of spending two minutes than watching 'pop star John Smith' driving round London with his dolly bird, before going on the Water Chute at Battersea fun fair ... while singing a highly amphetaminic version of C C Rider / Jenny Jenny Jenny? Thought not:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zwl_hsceLA]YouTube - John Smith & the New Sound - See See Rider[/ame]

[Dandelion]

name='Steve Crook']Like Suggs presenting the Disappearing London series where he travels around town meeting people and visiting places that are part of the ever changing face of our city

I enjoyed that series

[PhiltheFluter]

name='Dandelion']I enjoyed that series

Me too, even though I avoid London as much as possible

[doojeen]

Thread on The London Nobody Knows:

http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/br...ody-knows.html



[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpk2fMU3E-0]YouTube - The London Nobody Knows (Part 1)[/ame]

[darrenburnfan]

I went to see The London Nobody Knows at the cinema in 1969...it was the supporting film to Till Death Us Do Part. I suppose it was chosen to support the Alf Garnett feature by British Lion because it was also about London.