Le Mans 1955

A series celebrating the hobbies and leisure pursuits of the British during the last century. This episode looks at Britons getting away from it all.

A series celebrating the hobbies and leisure pursuits of the British during the last century. This episode looks at Britons enjoying their planes, trains and automobiles.

A series celebrating the hobbies and leisure pursuits of the British during the last century. This episode looks at Britons’ fun and games.

Including: Berlin Airlift begins, Mao’s communists take over in China, Korean War starts, French surrender at Dien Bien Phu, Soviets crush Hungarian Revolt, erection of the Berlin Wall, Cuban Missile Crisis, Soviets put down Prague Spring, Berlin Wall comes down, and official end of The Cold War – Bush/Gorbachev agree to deal.

Including: Hitler annexes Austria, Germany invades Poland, evacuation of Dunkirk, London Blitz begins on civilian targets, Pearl Harbor attacked, Battle of El Alamein begins, Fall of Stalingrad – German Army Surrenders, D-Day Landings, liberation of Paris, Big Three meet at Yalta to carve up post-war world, Germans surrender to Montgomery, VE Day celebrations, and Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

Including: Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland, IRA bombs British Cabinet at Brighton, Bosnian Crisis, 150 die in Oklahoma terrorist attack, September 11th, Beslan school siege, and London bombings.

Including: Emily Davison throws herself under the King’s Derby Horse, start of UK general strike, Martin Luther King delivers “I have a dream” speech, Grosvenor Square anti-Vietnam riots, Paris Riots, Heysel Stadium riots, Tienanmen Square Massacre, Ceausescu Overthrown, Soviet coup failed, Los Angeles race riots, Yeltsin crushes political rebels, and Orange Revolution.

Including: Suzanne Lenglen breaks Wimbledon record, American golfer Bobby Jones wins grand slam, Roger Bannister breaks four minute mile, Pele’s World Cup final performance thrills crowds, Beatles return from States in triumph, death of Mother Teresa, the Millennium, Pope John Paul II dies, London awarded 2012 Olympics, and collapse of Enron.

Including: Hindenburg airship crash, Le Mans 24 race disaster, Manchester United players die in air crash, Aberfan slag heap buries school, Donald Campbell dies, Ethiopian famine, Challenger spacecraft explodes, Chernobyl disaster, Zeebrugge ferry disaster, Lockerbie Pan-Am jet explosion, Exxon Valdez – world’s worst oil spill, Hurricane Mitch, Concorde crash, Asian tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina.

Including: Suez invasion, Six-Day War begins, Ayatollah Khomeini returns from exile, British SAS storm Iranian Embassy in London, America attacks Libya, Iraq invade Kuwait, Desert Storm – Gulf War, Arab Israeli peace agreement, Battle of Tora Bora, Fall of Iraq, Saddam Capture, and Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

Including: Irish Free State treaty signed, Battle of the Somme, abdication of the Tsar Nikolas, Hitler becomes German Chancellor, Labour’s landslide election win, India and Pakistan gain independence, Khrushchev denounces Stalin, Kennedy inauguration, Kennedy assassinated, Nixon first US president to resign, Lord Mountbatten assassinated by IRA, British task force to sail for Falklands, and more.

Including: Queen Victoria’s funeral, Edward VIII abdicates, British Royal Family in crisis, Windsor Castle damaged by fire, the Prince and Princess separate, Princess of Wales dies in Paris car crash, funeral of Diana, and Charles and Camilla wed.

Including: The Wright Brothers’ first flight, Charles Lindbergh flies the Atlantic solo, first Atomic Bomb test in New Mexico, Britain explodes first Atomic Bomb, launch of first nuclear submarine, first nuclear power station, first hovercraft run, Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space, Concorde flies for first time, Armstrong sets foot on the Moon, Dolly the Sheep clone unveiled, and more.

In this episode, we see a collection of biographies of several revered sports: Stanley Matthews, Amelia Earhart, Bobby Jones, Juan Fangio, Donald Campbell, Charles Lindbergh.

In this episode, we see a collection of biographies of several revered actresses: Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Brigitte Bardot, Sofia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor.

In this episode, we see a collection of biographies of several revered cultural icons: Dalí, Fontaine & Nureyev, Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis, Princess Diana, Mother Teresa, Edward & Mrs Simpson, Yuri Gagarin, and Mary Quant.

In this episode, we see a collection of biographies of several leaders: Emmeline Pankhurst, Ronald Reagan, Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Eisenhower, De Gaulle, Fidel Castro, Kennedy, Khrushchev.

In this episode, we see a collection of biographies of several revered actors and musicians: Chaplin, Elvis, Laurence Olivier, Louis Armstrong, Laurel and Hardy, Maurice Chevalier, John Lennon, Richard Burton, and Bob Hope.

This lovely film shows us the wonders of Northern Ireland in the 1960s, featuring great scenic shots and local characters.

Fabulous documentary made to educate American businessmen on the peculiar ways, customs, etiquette and traditions of the British as they were in 1974.

Filmed Lady Gregory play. Incredibly funny story about two grumpy men who live in an Irish workhouse.

Oscar-nominated travelogue showing the beauty of Ireland and its suitability as a holiday destination.

Narrated by Paul Scofield, this incredible documentary focuses on Winston Churchill’s life as a painter. The film revolves around the paintings that Churchill produced during his years in opposition, revealing the often forgotten or unknown artistic side of the most iconic prime minister of all time.

This feature-length documentary, newly divided into two parts, is a unique collaboration between Soul Jazz Records and British Pathé, made up entirely of newsreel footage about the Caribbean filmed during the period 1922-1970.

This feature-length documentary, newly divided into two parts, is a unique collaboration between Soul Jazz Records and British Pathé, made up entirely of newsreel footage about the Caribbean filmed during the period 1922-1970.

By the late 1930s, Pathé had refined its way of filming performers by mixing in evocative filmed locations such as London, Port Talbot, Ireland, Scotland and even the Queen Mary. Pathé also filmed real workers who became professional singers and miners who trained to be a team of high-wire walkers! Sit back and enjoy this time capsule celebration of a long-lost classic era of British variety!

Narrated by Allen Leech, this unique documentary tells the story of the Irish Easter Rising, why it happened and how it happened. Utilising incredible newly-colourised original footage, this film shows the Irish revolution as people at the time saw it – in colour.

What makes Agatha Christie such a successful writer? On the 75th anniversary of the creation of her immortal character Miss Marple, this documentary introduces viewers to new fields of scientific inquiry using sophisticated computer analyses of Christie’s every written word, her sentence structure, story arcs, poisons used, red herrings, clues and more.

The true story of the 15th-century power struggle between The House of Lancaster and The House of York. This film tells the whole fascinating story, with dramatic reconstructions.

The archetypal Marxist revolutionary, Che was also a physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist. We go to Dublin to meet Jim Fitzpatrick who met Che and designed the classic commercially-renowned image of the famous Argentine.

Actress, model and singer Marilyn Monroe was the original blonde bombshell who found international success in motion pictures during the 1950s. In this episode, we meet the photographer Elliot Erwitt, who took the classic “Seven Year Itch” image, and Magnum photographer Bruce Davidson who worked with Marilyn on “The Misfits”.

Anne Frank is one of the most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Her wartime diary, “The Diary of a Young Girl”, has been the basis of several plays and films, and is an inspiration to young people. In this episode, we meet Eva Schloss, Anne Frank’s step-sister, and visit the Anne Frank museum.

Not only considered among the greatest heavyweights in boxing history but arguably the greatest sports personality of all time. We meet George Lois, the man behind the legendary Esquire cover, and Lawrence Lusting who photographed many of Ali’s fights.

In this episode: Britain’s Hugh Grant gets caught with his trousers down – Jonathan Edwards triple jumps to a world record – The Grand National – Japanese town of Kobe brought to its knees by an earthquake – France sinks in world esteem because of nuclear bomb tests.

In this episode: Peace talks in the Middle East, South Africa and Northern Ireland – War in Bosnia and Somalia – Linford Christie leads Britain’s list of world athletic champions – The Grand National ends in fiasco – The Princess of Wales at home – Royal shocker.

In this episode: Royal family under fierce media spotlight – War in Bosnia – The 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings – Tony Blair is elected leader of the Labour party – Historic breakthrough between the IRA and the British government – The American superstar O.J. Simpson on trial for murder.

In this episode: India’s former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassinated – Boris Yeltsin is the new face on the Soviet Union scene – Years of South African isolation from the sporting word come to an end – An outbreak of rioting in several British provincial cities – USA wins the Ryder Cup – Rugby World Cup.

In this episode: Slovenia and Croatia are formally recognised as independent states – Mike Tyson is beginning his six year jail term – IRA bombs go off in London – Riots in LA – Liverpool wins the FA Cup for 5th time – Bill Clinton becomes president.

In this episode: The Soviet Union really begins to fall apart – Rebel cricket tour – Iraq invades Kuwait – The release of Nelson Mandela – Poll tax riots – The Hubble space telescope.

In this episode: George Bush becomes president – Japan: Emperor Hirohito, the world’s longest-serving monarch, dies – The Soviet occupation of Afghanistan comes to an end – 95 soccer supporters die in the terraces of Sheffield Wednesday’s ground – Peking students fighting for liberty and their lives – 200th anniversary of the French Revolution.

In this episode: Australia’s 200th anniversary of the arrival of the country’s first settlers – Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day – Aborigines continue their campaign for land rights – The Soviet Union begins celebrating a thousand years of Christianity in their country – Hurricane Gilbert smashes its way across the Caribbean – Gold fever is taking men and women deep into the heart of the Amazon.

In this episode: The kidnapping in Beirut of Terry Waite – Barbados: Mick Jagger’s friend, Jerry Hall, gets into trouble with the local police – Liberace dies at the age of 67 – Princess Diana opens Britain’s first purpose-built ward for AIDS patients – Richard Branson flies across the Atlantic in a hot-air balloon – Native American’s meeting with the pontiff.

In this episode: Bob Geldof visits Ethiopia – Gibraltar joins the rest of Europe – One more death in the Kremlin – South Africa repeals – Hiroshima: 40th anniversary – More rioting in Britain.

In this episode: The Channel Tunnel – Dictator Marcos toppled after ruling the Philippines for 20 years – Rupert Murdoch decides he could take on the print unions of Fleet Street – The Chernobyl nuclear disaster – 30 million people round the world set out to run for Africa – The World Cup in Mexico with much excitement and some tension.

In this episode: Environmental awareness is growing: Acid Rain – Lebanon erupts into civil war – Margaret Thatcher vs the unions – Britain breaks off diplomatic relations with Libya – Philippines: Three quarters of a million people march in the capital – The LA Olympics proves golden for Britain

In this episode: Thousands of migrant workers pour out of Nigeria – The Queen makes her first visit to Hollywood – Reagan announces plan to build “Star Wars” – Gandhi film steals the show at the Oscars – America’s first woman in space returns home safely – Developments in Poland with the lifting of martial law.

In this episode: Argentine troops invade the Falkland Islands – John Paul II becomes the first pope to visit Britain for 450 years – Prince William is born – Italy wins the World Cup – The Kray twins – The 12th Commonwealth Games

In this episode: Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer engaged – The Yorkshire Ripper – Frank Sinatra reapplies for his casino licence – President Anwar Sadat of Egypt assassinated by his own soldiers – Violence continues in Northern Ireland and IRA bombs go off in Oxford Street – Mrs. Thatcher greeted in Scotland with a shower of eggs.

In this episode: The Shah of Iran is driven into exile – The end of 30 years of hostility between Egypt and Israel – Top Tory MP Airey Neave dies in IRA car bomb – The annual university boat race – The deposed Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is hanged – Thatcher becomes prime minister.

In this episode: The Soviet Union consolidates its invasion of Afghanistan – India: Indira Gandhi wins the election and becomes prime minister – UK: An insurance broker flies around the world on airline flights faster than anyone before – USA’s turn to host the Winter Olympics – Prince Andrew with the Royal Marines – The worst ever North Sea oil disaster.

In this episode: Rolls Royce now produce 50 per cent more cars than five years ago – Holland: South Maluku terrorists seeking independence seize a train – The Queen’s Silver Jubilee – A historic day for Spain – Elvis Presley dies – The England cricket team.

In this episode: A mass exodus of tourists in Rhodesia – Super tanker Amoco Cadiz splits in two in heavy seas – Prince Charles parachuting – Cow chip throwing contest in Oklahoma – Switzerland: Grave robbers steal the body of Charlie Chaplin – Argentina wins World Cup.

In this episode: Northern Ireland: More than 150 prisoners are released – A belated knighthood for P.G. Wodehouse – Cricketing hero Gary Sobers knighted – The world’s biggest mass wedding: 1,800 couples in South Korea – King Faisal of Saudi Arabia is assassinated by a nephew.

In this episode: John Currie wins the men’s figure skating gold at the Winter Olympics – The big landowners in Rhodesia increase security around their homes and farms – Harold Wilson stuns the political world and resigns – Argentina: President Isabelle Peron is deposed in a bloodless coup – Portugal’s first parliamentary elections in 50 years.

In this episode: Pablo Picasso dies at 91 – The world’s largest uncut diamond, the star of Sierra Leone, on show in London – Muhammad Ali vs Joe Bugner in Vegas – The plight of Native Americans and Marlon Brando – Bobby Charlton comes out on his final home game for Manchester United – The Watergate scandal overshadows Nixon’s presidency.

In this episode: John Wayne on a publicity trip to London – Cleaning up the Suez Canal – Violence in Northern Ireland – The round-the-world yacht race – West Germany wins the World Cup – A military coup in Cyprus forces President Makarios to fly to Britain.

In this episode: Britain joins the common market – Bloodshed in Northern Ireland continues – Egyptian treasures draw massive crowds to the British Museum – Vietnam: communist troops from the North launch their biggest offensive in four years – Charlie Chaplin returns to America for the first time in twenty years – The Munich Olympics: Terrorist attack on Israeli athletes

In this episode: The Harrier jump jet – Frazier snatches the world heavyweight crown from Cassius Clay – A massive volcanic eruption from Mount Etna in Sicily – Music lovers in NY pay homage to Louis Armstrong – The IRA and riots in Northern Ireland – The two-week war between India and Pakistan.

In this episode: Man on the moon – Israel attacks Beirut Airport – The world’s first supersonic – Nixon becomes president – Concorde takes to the air – Lulu marries a Bee Gee.

In this episode: Civil war in Nigeria – London fashions – Growing unrest in Northern Ireland – Vietnam: The war grows bloodier with no hope for peace – Mayday strikes and “demos” – John and Yoko.

In this episode: The Concorde prototype – The Boston Strangler escapes – Cassius Clay refuses to join Army – Elvis marries Priscilla – Russian space tragedy – Crown Jewels rehoused – Monkees arrive at Heathrow – Detroit race riots – Rolling Stones cleared.

In this episode: Roman Polanski marries Sharon Tate – Immigrants protest – The Beatles meditate – Anti-Vietnam War demonstration in Trafalgar Square – Martin Luther King assassinated – Robert Kennedy assassinated – Mexico Olympics get underway.

In this episode: The death of Churchill – Undersea hunt for oil – “My Fair Lady” comes to town – Royal visit to Africa – Selma: Marchers demand civil rights – Famine follows drought.

In this episode: India: Gandhi chosen for president – Vietnam War – England wins World Cup – Ronald Reagan’s presidential race – The Swinging Sixties – Britain’s first nuclear-powered Polaris submarine.

In this episode: Alcatraz: Everybody out! – Moscow: The girl from space – Vatican City: Pope Paul is crowned – JFK is assassinated – Monaco: Hill wins Grand Prix – London: Let’s all be Beatles!

In this episode: Panama crisis – The Beatles conquer America – Get your spring hat – Royal wedding in Athens – The bullet train – Xmas around the world

In this episode: Haiti voodoo festival – Uganda wins independence – JFK triumphs – Prince Charles begins new school – Dr Charlie Chaplin – TV from space

In this episode: JFK inaugurated as the 35th President of the USA – The grandeur of India – The first man in space – France in turmoil – Berlin: The Wall of Shame – Wimbledon.

In this episode: Agadir: A city dies – Eisenhower visits South America – India welcomes Nasser – The Royal Wedding – Florida: Submarine Polaris fired – The Moscow Powers Trial.

In this episode: Paris: De Gaulle moves in – Hong Kong: Refugee problem nears crisis – USA: Biggest carrier goes to sea – “Titan” rocket is fired – London: Stars fight cinema tax – Buckingham Palace: Guards retreat.

In this episode: Eden resigns: Harold Macmillan becomes the leader of the Tory Party and the Government – New styles in furniture – Egypt digs up their own history – The technological frontier and “Space Race” – Russians launch their first successful Sputnik satellite – The Monaco Grand Prix.

In this episode: The first world exhibition since 1939 opens in Brussels – UN: Eisenhower outlines peace plan – Rome hails new pope – Manchester United tragedy – The Queen opens Gatwick Airport – The age of the teenager – The world’s first gas turbine car.

In this episode: The emergence of a rival to NATO – The signing of the Warsaw Pact – Nationalist South African party continues to put legal bite behind its policy of apartheid – Colonial unrest in Cyprus and Algeria – Further clashes between Egyptian and Israeli forces in Gaza – Sir Alexander Fleming dies – Sir Winston Churchill resigns – Donald Campbell sets land speed record.

In this episode: The invasion of Hungary by Soviet forces – Khrushchev denounces Stalin – President Eisenhower on holiday in Georgia – George Orwell’s “1984” film premiere – Liberace’s tour of Britain – Britain wins Monte Carlo rally.

In this episode: The conflict continues in Indochina between the Communist rebels lead by Ho Chi Minh and the French resistance – A treaty that officially divides the country into North and South Vietnam – Senator Joe McCarthy’s career of purging the country of supposed communists comes to a sordid end – Suez terms agreed.

In this episode: Queen Elizabeth’s coronation – Britain’s Le Mans triumph – President Eisenhower warns the world that the Soviet Union is out for global domination – Yugoslavia’s war hero Tito elected president – Britain deals with the last outpost of its fading empire – Russia mourns as Stalin dies.

In this episode: USA’s first H-bomb test and Britain’s first atom bomb – Korean war continues: fears that China might intervene in the Asian conflict – Britain’s presence in Egypt and around the Suez Canal questioned – Churchill visits President Truman in America – The funeral of Eva Peron – John Cobbs, the fastest man on water, dies.

In this episode: The Korean War unfolds against the backdrop of growing nuclear tension – USA test its first H-bombs, a thousand times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb – Iran snubs the British by nationalising the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.

In this episode: In America, anti-communist hysteria gathers pace – Stalin and the new Chinese leader sign a pact of friendship – USA decides to build the Hydrogen Bomb – Prince Rainier III ascends the throne of Monaco, Europe’s tiniest state – Communist forces attack the Republic of Korea – Korea: No chance for reconciliation in the first major military conflict of the Cold War.

In this episode: A year in which Europe’s regeneration gathers pace – The creation of the Federal Republic of Germany – Russia’s blockade of Berlin – Anti-communist hysteria sweeps America – China becomes a communist state.

In this episode: Hopes for new improvements in Anglo Russian relations fly high – Truman declares war on Soviet Russia – The invention of the press button car park – Al Capone dies – Palestine problem handed to the U.N. – Australia’s 20,000,000 pounds for Britain.

In this episode: Jamaicans arrive in Britain – The drama of Palestine – Mahatma Gandhi dies – General Eisenhower retires – Berlin in crisis – The silver wedding in Britain.

In this episode: Hitler shoots himself at news of the Russian advance on Berlin – American and Russian troops shake hands across the ruins of Germany and the war is over – FDR tragically dies within sight of victory and Harry S Truman, his vice president, takes over – The post-war order is born.

In this episode: Nations turn their attention to reconstruction and the prospects for the future – Winston Churchill makes his famous speech in which he describes an iron curtain falling across Europe – The first verbal battles of the Cold War are fought – In China, civil war rages between Mao Zedong’s communist forces and the Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek.

In this episode: The Normandy landings, the world’s biggest combined land, sea and air operation – The Allies take complete control of Normandy – Paris is liberated after courageous work by the French underground resistance – Those around Hitler begin to doubt his claims – The first German city falls into Allied hands.

In this episode: The year in which the Allies made steady progress against the Nazis – In Russia, the bloody siege of Stalingrad comes to an end with the surrender of German forces – In Northern Africa, the forces unleashed by the Allies sees success – The Allies take 110,000 prisoners of war – Regular meetings between Roosevelt and Churchill take place.

In this episode: The Germans widen their operations – Hitler orders the bombing of Dublin and other Irish towns – Mussolini’s army suffers a string of setbacks – Roosevelt secures a record 3rd term as president and introduces the lend-lease scheme – Hitler throws Panzer divisions against Russia – Pearl Harbor is bombed and the USA enters the war.

In this episode: USA joining the Allied forces marks a turning point in the war – A significant victory prompts Churchill to make one of his most famous speeches – The Battle of the Coral Sea – Hitler’s troops fight the vicious Battle of Stalingrad – The Germans formulate their plans to rid Europe of its 11 million Jews.

In this episode: Finland: Stalin’s Red Army has been fighting a dogged opposition – The progress of the Germans pushes British forces back to the sea – A massive evacuation operation is mounted – Coventry is bombed – The King receives a decoration – First woman naval doctor

In this episode: WW2 seems inevitable and yet unreal – Spain: The civil war ends – Hitler parades in Prague amid the jeers and tears of the beaten Czech nation – Hitler surprises the world by signing a non-aggression pact with Russia – The coronation of Pope Pius XII – New York’s World Fair opens.

In this episode: The threat of war – Spain: A bloody civil war rages between a left wing republican government and fascist nationalists led by Franco – Far East: Imperialist Japan fights to conquer China – Europe: Hitler’s aim of enlarging Germany’s borders – Neville Chamberlain resolves to negotiate with Hitler – German troops march into Austria.

In this episode: The tragedy of the Spanish Civil War intensifies – The year of Guernica – Japan and China are at war – USA: Franklin D. Roosevelt begins his second term as president – Edward VIII has resolved to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson – Prince Albert, father of Elizabeth and Margaret, becomes king

In this episode: Spain: Civil war breaks out – Germany: Hitler hosts the Olympic games – Politically, Germany begins to strain against its borders – British attention firmly focused on a new King – Edward VIII succeeds George V, who died at the beginning of the year – Edward, when Prince of Wales, has met and fallen in love with Wallis Simpson.

In this episode: Mussolini puts his imperial ambitions into practice – USA: Depression effects are still felt – USA: The infamous dust bowl scars the land – India: An earthquake kills 20,000 people – The San Francisco Bay Bridge opens which will be the largest in the world – Europe’s fragile stability begins to crumble.

In this episode: The consolidation of the fascist heart of Europe – Hitler takes the title of Fuhrer – Night of the Long Knives – Aviation’s latest plane, “The Umbrella”, makes successful test flight – France: The government faces riots and strikes – Europe begins to take the fascists seriously.

In this episode: The Reichstag burns – Adolf Hitler becomes chancellor – Benito Mussolini tightens his iron grip on the Italian dictatorship – Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected president of the USA – Widespread flooding – England wins the Ashes

In this episode: Charlie Chaplin becomes a celebrity – America’s Great Depression – World speed record broken at Daytona Beach – Gangster warfare in the USA – The George Washington Bridge opened – Longest telephone call in the world.

In this episode: FDR’s New Deal – Amelia Earhart hailed as world’s foremost aviator – Hindenburg re-elected as president of Germany – Washington hunger marches – Germany: Adolf Hitler, with growing support on the streets, waits in the wings – Glendale, US aviation’s latest wonder.

In this episode: Stock market crash – Britain’s second Labour government – Gandhi becomes national figure – Pathé sport – the birth of motor racing – World’s winter sports – Grand Prix de Paris.

Discover how the pursuit of sporting perfection helped Ancient Greeks attain immortality and how the lost pharaoh, Akhenaten, written out of history, “lives” again thanks to modern technology.

Unlock the secrets behind the spectacular artworks of the Minoans, discover Pompeii’s hidden secrets and explore Tikai, the major city of the Mayan empire.

Power, innovative design and planning defined the endurance of the great empires of Carthage, Rome and the Incas.

For more than half a century, film and newsreel company British Pathé documented almost every aspect of British life, but it also captivated audiences with enthralling stories from overseas.

While the company was famous for its pioneering news reports, it also produced immensely popular “cinemagazines”, which entertained cinemagoers for decades.

For more than half a century, the film and newsreel company British Pathé documented almost every aspect of everyday life in Britain and around the world. Covering everything from major world events and exotic foreign locales to the pageantry of state occasions and gritty social issues, the company amassed a unique documentary record of 20th-century life.

The voice that was synonymous with Pathé, above all others, belonged to Bob Danvers-Walker. His son Michael and film historian Ian Christie recall the man who got Britain through the Blitz and beyond.

Documentary film about the last months of WWII – the end of fighting in Europe and the Far East. Narrated by Sir Ralph Richardson.

Documentary about the last winter of WWII – Allied troops surround the German forces. Narrated by John Ireland.

Documentary film about the events of 1943-1944, mainly bombing missions over Europe. Narrated by William Bendix.

Documentary of events in Europe from just before D-Day until the liberation of Paris. Narrated by a citizen of Paris.

Documentary film about the events of 1943 and 1944 – the Italian campaign. Narrated by a citizen of Rome.

Documentary film about the events of 1943, especially the Battle of the Atlantic. Narrated by Sir Michael Redgrave.

Documentary film about events of 1941, on the Eastern Front and at Pearl Harbor. Narrated by Anthony Quayle.

Documentary film about the events of 1942 and America’s entry into the war. Narrated by Stanley Quayle.

Documentary film about the events of the later months of 1940. Narrated by Sir Michael Redgrave.

Documentary film about the events of the early months of 1940. Narrated by Niall MacGinnis.

About life in the Depression and gangster-hit America. Narrated by John Ireland.

Good documentary about various important figures of the 1930s. Narrated by Anthony Quayle.

Documentary about events of 1939 – preparations for war and then hostilities break out. Narrated by Sir Michael Redgrave.

Focusing on famous characters of the time. Narrated by Anthony Quayle.

War in the Far East and the build-up to war in Europe. Narrated by Niall MacGinnis.

People become aware of the growing threat of war. Narrated by Richard Greene.

Good documentary about events of the year of the abdication crisis. Narrated by Sir Michael Redgrave.

Documentary film about events of 1933 – the rise of Roosevelt and Hitler. Narrated by Roland Culver.

Good documentary about the world in the early 1930s. Narrated by Anthony Quayle.

Diary of events in 1932 in the United States of America – Franklin Roosevelt becomes the President. Narrated by Anthony Quayle.

A look behind the scenes at the theatre during the 1920s. Narrated by Basil Rathbone.

Excellent documentary about women’s lives in the 1920s. Narrated by Joyce Grenfell.

Good documentary about the world in 1929. Illness of King George V and economic depression. Narrated by Sir Michael Redgrave.

A look at the obsession with speed and travel during the late 1920s. Narrated by Roger Livesey.

Documentary about 1926 – the General Strike, international politics, dancing, weather and record-breaking feats. Narrated by Stanley Holloway.

Fantastic peek at the British film industry of the 1920s – clips from great silent films and newsreels. Narrated by Basil Rathbone.

Review of the events in 1922 including Irish Troubles, war between Greece and Turkey, and developments in aviation and radio. Narrated by Sir Michael Redgrave.

A look at political and social life in Europe and beyond during 1924. Narrated by John Ireland.

Events of 1920 – weddings, women’s rights, industrial unrest and problems in Ireland. Narrated by Sir Michael Redgrave.

Irish treaty, mad stunts and newspapers at work. Narrated by Roland Culver.

Celebrations of the Armistice and negotiations at Versailles. Narrated by Sir Ralph Richardson.

The Americans have an impact on the war – then, finally, there is peace. Narrated by Sir Michael Redgrave.

From the Eastern, Western and Home Fronts. Narrated by Stanley Holloway.

Including the Russian Revolution, the US entry into the war and women at work. Narrated by Stanley Holloway.

World War One begins and recruits go off to fight. Narrated by Sir Michael Redgrave.

Training of Kitchener’s volunteer army, the Dardanelles, etc. Narrated by Stanley Holloway.

Narrated by Dame Edith Evans.

A period of technological and political change. Narrated by Sir Ralph Richardson.

Scenes from life at the turn of the century – life in Britain and around the world. Narrated by Basil Rathbone.

Musical and comic turns include The Beverley Sisters, Flanagan & Allen, Gracie Fields, Tommy Trinder, The Crazy Gang, Arthur Askey, Laurel & Hardy, Bob Hope, Richard Hearne (Mr Pastry), Max Miller, Anna Neagle, Richard Murdoch, Wilfred Pickles, Vera Lynn and many, many more. The 1940s American film star and comedian, Danny Kaye, is seen here in rehearsal for his 1948 Royal Command Performance.

A nostalgic celebration of a rich diversity of variety entertainers. There are balancing acts, jugglers, dance bands, jazz bands, organists, strongmen, comedians, musicians, dancers – modern and ballet, roller-skaters, actors, singers and even a Bird Circus.

A programme full of performances by the morale-boosting variety acts and singers of the Second World War. Artists who helped frontline troops and home front civilians alike to keep smiling through the dark days of war. Including Flanagan & Allen, Gracie Fields, Robb Wilton, Sydney Burchall, Tommy Trinder, Peter Sinclair, Vera Lynn, Cyril Fletcher, Tommy Handley and Mantovani, among many more!

This programme includes performances by The Peters Sisters, Leslie Henson, The Hillbillies, Douglas Byng, Issy Bonn, Lorenzi, The Four Aces, Sydney Burchall, Mr Penny, Eric Woodburn, Billie Hale, Ronald Frankau and many, many more. Come 1939, war with Germany was looming, but, as the famous phrase goes, “The show must go on!” – and it did!

We hear from the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Quentin Tarantino, Mike Leigh and many others about the festival as it is today. Cannes is the most prestigious film festival where all the world’s greatest directors want to show their films.

The French New Wave directors, including François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard, cause massive controversy and manage to get the event cancelled in 1968. Sophia Loren becomes the new queen of the festival and the Golden Boys of American cinema, including Martin Scorsese and Robert Altman, become regular winners of the Palme d’Or.

The festival is established as a response to Mussolini’s control of the Venice Film Festival. It becomes an inspiration to a generation still recovering from the impact of WWII by attracting the biggest stars of the time including Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and director Orson Welles. Its reputation spreads worldwide alongside that of its most famous regular visitor, Brigitte Bardot.

Famous comedy travelogue produced by British Pathé in the 1960s to promote holidays in Great Britain. The shows were presented by much-loved ventriloquist Ray Alan and his celebrated companion Lord Charles and filmed in full colour.

Famous comedy travelogue produced by British Pathé in the 1960s to promote holidays in Great Britain. The shows were presented by much-loved ventriloquist Ray Alan and his celebrated companion Lord Charles and filmed in full colour.

Famous comedy travelogue produced by British Pathé in the 1960s to promote holidays in Great Britain. The shows were presented by much-loved ventriloquist Ray Alan and his celebrated companion Lord Charles and filmed in full colour.

Famous comedy travelogue produced by British Pathé in the 1960s to promote holidays in Great Britain. The shows were presented by much-loved ventriloquist Ray Alan and his celebrated companion Lord Charles and filmed in full colour.