A drive around London, 1927 (In Colour!)
Discussion
Take a look at this amazing film "The Open Road, London" filmed in 1927 using a then-new experimental colour film process. Evidently, this was the final episode of a European travelogue. No traffic lights, no congestion zones, no Japanese tourists. Just London as it was in 1927.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwahIQz0o-M&fea...
Contrast this with the London of 1903. Horse drawn buses and only one motor car spotted, near the end of the film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVQiEJW7RWg&fea...
Madman of the People
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwahIQz0o-M&fea...
Contrast this with the London of 1903. Horse drawn buses and only one motor car spotted, near the end of the film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVQiEJW7RWg&fea...
Madman of the People
Excellent find, thanks! 
I actually found the 1927 more interesting because I could relate to it. Unlike a lot of early-ish colour it's pretty plausible and gives you a real flavour of the time. It's quite strange to see people of my great grandparents generation as normal individuals going about their business on an average day. The 1903 film is still captivating, but it's more like looking in a history book; it's not quite so absorbing.
I actually found the 1927 more interesting because I could relate to it. Unlike a lot of early-ish colour it's pretty plausible and gives you a real flavour of the time. It's quite strange to see people of my great grandparents generation as normal individuals going about their business on an average day. The 1903 film is still captivating, but it's more like looking in a history book; it's not quite so absorbing.
The quality of the 1927 film was superb - with everything running smoothly and at the right speed.
I noticed the chap on his mobile too. A 1920s mobile would have been something to behold - what with the windy-up bit phones had in those days
For me, that was actually my grandparent's era. In fact, my mother was born in 1924 and my dad in 1928. My dad is still with us and getting on fairly well.
Noticeable how much the street scene was dominated by buses.
That final shot of the bobby approaching the camera had been thinking what he might be saying.
"'Ello, 'ello, 'ello - 'ave you got a permit for this filming 'ere?".
I noticed the chap on his mobile too. A 1920s mobile would have been something to behold - what with the windy-up bit phones had in those days
For me, that was actually my grandparent's era. In fact, my mother was born in 1924 and my dad in 1928. My dad is still with us and getting on fairly well.
Noticeable how much the street scene was dominated by buses.
That final shot of the bobby approaching the camera had been thinking what he might be saying.
"'Ello, 'ello, 'ello - 'ave you got a permit for this filming 'ere?".
Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 4th February 10:30
Although there was lots of grime, have a look at colour film from the 1960s (of which there's lots). It's even worse.
The general cleaning up of London began in the late 1970s. I first visited London in 1977 and I was shocked at how dirty everything was. By 1985 it had improved dramatically.
The general cleaning up of London began in the late 1970s. I first visited London in 1977 and I was shocked at how dirty everything was. By 1985 it had improved dramatically.
Eric Mc said:
I noticed the chap on his mobile too. A 1920s mobile would have been something to behold - what with the windy-up bit phones had in those days
The phone could have been small enough to mount on the bikes tank Eric: its the cable-laying trailer that youd have to pull, thatd be most noticeable!
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