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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Cinematographer Billy Williams and other ex-BTF film crew members tell the fascinating story of Edgar Anstey's British Transport Films unit.
British Transport Films was set up in 1949 to make documentary films on the general subject of British transport. Its work included internal training films and travelogues (extolling the virtues of places that could be visited via the British transport system - mostly by rail) promoting the progress of Britain's rail network.
BTF was headed by Edgar Anstey until 1974 and made films mostly for the British Transport Commission, but after 1963 the majority of its films were made for the British Railways Board. The unit also made films for London Transport (Tube, bus and tram services), the British Waterways Board, the travel company Thomas Cook & Son and the coach company Thomas Tilling. [Wikipedia]
From an old VHS recording, so apologies for the quality.
Thumbnail photo shows a young Billy Williams and John Krish at work with BTF.
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#britishtransport
An incredible collection of films especially as it marks the progress of my life. To call it left wing propaganda akin to Russia but benign, rather than an advertisement to promote the railways and transport is just what you would expect the Daily Mail scribbler Dominic Sandbrook to spout. Of course the Tories of the time thought such a film unit was a waste of money, they thought the same of the NHS and loo k what they have done to both in the many decades that have followed. As for Sandbrook declaring dismissively that film goers would have found those first travelogues boring, I can assure him that I and my family and friends loved them. We had no television which was only black and white anyway and to see places in glorious colour that one day we might possibly visit was magic and gave us good value for our cinema ticket. Gorgeous compilation but why ask anyone from the much derided Mail to do his best to poo poo it.
I have seen a lot of these feature films on You Tube and often thought about the work that went into making them. My favorite feature that I have watched many times is "Terminus" I am an Australian and I have never traveled to the UK but hope to one day. These films are fantastic, thank you for uploading this doco to You Tube.
Fantastic programme..
The question has to be asked why do the Tories always show disdain and contempt for the working class. These films are beyond brilliance for they show the real hard grind of every day life for the average working man and woman.
Brexit is now the karma that the Tories embraced to the detriment of decent British workers.
The Tories helped the working man quite considerably. They reduced the " theft " of 33 p in the pound tax down to 22p. They allowed the working classes to become home owners by buying their council houses if they wished. They provided the country with the cheapest energy prices in Europe for about 30 odd years because of privatisation. They allowed the working man freedom over their own pension schemes which has put many thousands of pounds into their pockets compared with before. The Tories have helped the working classes quite a lot actually.
@@scabbycatcat4202 ooo
I see the pro Labour voice over from the start.
It would not have happened if the workers did not vote for it. How do you not understand why remain lost.....?
Labour left the working class behind in the 70s. The working class keeps voting in Conservative governments despite their betters on the Left telling them otherwise.
"A nation about to change beyond recognition". Not wrong there.
For the worse.
What a historic legacy they have left for us to enjoy of past days.
I never understand the distinction that is made between propaganda and non-propaganda. The Schlesinger BTF film Terminus is as much propaganda as anything. "Gritty and realistic" has always been a cliche.
The much derided transport enthuiasts of today. Male like the majority and female like me and a couple of others have taken on where groups like British Transport Films have left off , photographing and recording the public transport of our day .
In the 23 years I've been photographing public transport by heck, things have changed.
I do wonder what people looking back from 50 years in the future will think of what i photo today , introduction of hybrid and rlecttic buses etc . I suppose it is like me looking back at the transport of the 60s and before.
I like your video guys brilliant
Many thanks for your comment.
Focusing not on footage recorded by aspiring youngsters, but rather the reminiscences of those of them who have grown old.
Many who worked for British Transport films were aspiring youngsters. We all grow old!
That was brilliant. I love this old footage showing how life was back then.
And these guys went onto to greater things how wonderful is that.
I liked the last comment about how making these films had a bearing on future careers. I can relate to that having been in similar circumstances... not in film making but something else in the arts.
Despite the message of the documentary and the socialist leanings of the makers of the BTF films, most of the people today who enjoy watching these old BTF films from the 1950s do for decidedly politically incorrect reasons.
What a very insightful way of putting it. Should keep you safe from the thought police on here.
..... isn't it interesting TH-cam no longer shows you the amount of dislikes on a comment.....maybe you might share this information with us.....or maybe not....
@@dulls8475.....I absolutely agree with you