[1949 TRIP TO LONDON, ENGLAND w/ BOMB DAMAGE]

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1949

Description: This well shot, silent 16mm home movie documents a trip to London made by an unknown American tourist in 1949. It contains some fascinating footage including images of bomb damage from WWII that was still being cleared in the post-war era. The film starts with (out of focus) shots of a ruined church before showing a blonde woman holding up a finger, apparently making a statement about the price of tomatoes in a grocery window. At :50 Thomas Logan Ltd. Outfitters shop is seen. At :55 the woman puts a letter in a post box while a London Transport bus moves past. At 1:09, the Hutton & Barrett Chemist shop. At 1:23, street scene with "Keep Left" sign visible. At 1:28 the woman poses beneath a street sign in Bucks County. At 1:38 a sign for the Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens, constructed 1934-39. Shots of the cemetery and memorials. At 2:13, a church presumably at Stoke Poges. At 2:18 Windsor Castle is pictured with a Queen Victoria statue prominently shown, as green London Transport buses drive past. At 2:28, royal guards are seen at Windsor. At 3:00, St. George's chapel at Windsor. At 3:39, what appears to be clocktower at Eton College. At 4:04, the Lion Gate at Hampton Court Palace, followed by views of the Palace. At 4:28, the Hampton Court astronomical clock followed by images of the gardens and grounds. At 5:59, bomb damage or ruins near St. Paul's Cathedral, including what appear to be wrecked apartment blocks from "The Blitz". At 7:05, the Tower Bridge on the Thames. At 7:13, Tower of London, sign for the White Tower. At 7:24, sign indicating the Beauchamp Tower Scaffold is nearby. At 7:31, Beefeaters pose for the camera. At 7:57, Trinity House is visible followed by Nelson's Column and Trafalgar Square. At 8:52, street art -- pastel drawings on the sidewalk of dogs. The Victoria Tower and the Palace of Westminster are seen at 9:00, as well as images of the stained glass windows. At 9:59 Big Ben is visible in the distance, followed by a close shot of the clock face. A shot of the Thames is followed at 11:08 by a shot of Regent Street. At 11:11 is a shot of Piccadilly Circus with its many neon signs, and at 11:30 the National Gallery. At 11:37 the Carlton Grill is visible on Pall Mall street, with another view of the Tower Bridge at 12:00. Other views of the Tower Bridge follow, along with a sweeping panorama of London ending on St. Paul's cathedral. At 12:43 the monument to the Great Fire of London is shown. At 13:25 Buckingham Palace is shown, and the Guards Memorial at 13:34. Bomb or fragment damage to the Memorial is plainly visible. At 13:51 the Queen's Guard is seen on the move as the clock at 14:00 comes close to 11 a.m.

Complete Record: This well shot, silent 16mm home movie documents a trip to London made by an unknown American tourist in 1949. It contains some fascinating footage including images of bomb damage from WWII that was still being cleared in the post-war era. The film starts with (out of focus) shots of a ruined church before showing a blonde woman holding up a finger, apparently making a statement about the price of tomatoes in a grocery window. At :50 Thomas Logan Ltd. Outfitters shop is seen. At :55 the woman puts a letter in a post box while a London Transport bus moves past. At 1:09, the Hutton & Barrett Chemist shop. At 1:23, street scene with "Keep Left" sign visible. At 1:28 the woman poses beneath a street sign in Bucks County. At 1:38 a sign for the Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens, constructed 1934-39. Shots of the cemetery and memorials. At 2:13, a church presumably at Stoke Poges. At 2:18 Windsor Castle is pictured with a Queen Victoria statue prominently shown, as green London Transport buses drive past. At 2:28, royal guards are seen at Windsor. At 3:00, St. George's chapel at Windsor. At 3:39, what appears to be clocktower at Eton College. At 4:04, the Lion Gate at Hampton Court Palace, followed by views of the Palace. At 4:28, the Hampton Court astronomical clock followed by images of the gardens and grounds. At 5:59, bomb damage or ruins near St. Paul's Cathedral, including what appear to be wrecked apartment blocks from "The Blitz". At 7:05, the Tower Bridge on the Thames. At 7:13, Tower of London, sign for the White Tower. At 7:24, sign indicating the Beauchamp Tower Scaffold is nearby. At 7:31, Beefeaters pose for the camera. At 7:57, Trinity House is visible followed by Nelson's Column and Trafalgar Square. At 8:52, street art -- pastel drawings on the sidewalk of dogs. The Victoria Tower and the Palace of Westminster are seen at 9:00, as well as images of the stained glass windows. At 9:59 Big Ben is visible in the distance, followed by a close shot of the clock face. A shot of the Thames is followed at 11:08 by a shot of Regent Street. At 11:11 is a shot of Piccadilly Circus with its many neon signs, and at 11:30 the National Gallery. At 11:37 the Carlton Grill is visible on Pall Mall street, with another view of the Tower Bridge at 12:00. Other views of the Tower Bridge follow, along with a sweeping panorama of London ending on St. Paul's cathedral. At 12:43 the monument to the Great Fire of London is shown. At 13:25 Buckingham Palace is shown, and the Guards Memorial at 13:34. Bomb or fragment damage to the Memorial is plainly visible. At 13:51 the Queen's Guard is seen on the move as the clock at 14:00 comes close to 11 a.m.