Springtime in an English Village (1944)

[Qthesame]

Beautiful

[Fozzly]

This video is a social construction of nature with a direct political purpose with both intended and unintended effects. It was not shown in this country, but was made for external use to attract immigrants to the UK to help with the war recovery effort.

[scurrie42]

Look at how happy and well behaved those children are without X-boxes, 'reality' TV, blackberries and entitlement to disrepect the adults that guide them. What a beautiful window into the simple life of a bygone era, when children were allowed to have a childhood.

[jimbowie09]

It's now a 67 year old film archive. Very interesting. The woman who placed the garland in the girl's hair looked a lot like young Princess Elizabeth II .

[Tinderlight]

@Kazinthegarden Silly Person - Grow-up!! ... by the way, your spelling is AWFUL! My 6 year old niece puts points across better than you. Education is what you need.

[Kazinthegarden]

@Tinderlight I might misspell a bit dear as I lost fingers, dont you listen. I think it is you that has made a very big fool of herself. You completely missed a simple joke and showed yourself for the stupid judgemental idiot you are

[Kazinthegarden]

whats the black kid doing there...its 1944!!!!! I thought the token black came in in the 80s...well not the midsomer murder villiage obviously

[Tinderlight]

@Kazinthegarden Black people have lived in the UK as early as the 14 century and possibly earlier. It's ignorant people like you who have to LEARN MORE! Educate yourself and KNOW VERY WELL that Black and Asian people from Africa, India, West Indies etc HELPED Britain in the Army in BOTH the 1st and 2nd World War.

People like you are EMBARRASSING!!!!

[Kazinthegarden]

@Tinderlight its confused idiots like you that are embarrasing,

[Tinderlight]

@Kazinthegarden Your response says it all -you’re a mindless idiot!

Get yourself EDUCATED - then perhaps you may see sense!

[PunkntheGodfather]

@Tinderlight I think this was a simple joke as regards modern day PC Tinderlight, a simple comment. It has nothing to do with the war. What has this got to do with when or how long black people have been in the UK, you could argue forever as our ancestors walked over from what is now Africa before the Fleuve Manche. I dont see any embarressment in making a simple joke, I think you have misunderstood

[PunkntheGodfather]

@Kazinthegarden lol, well tokenism was an 80s 90s thing I guess

[EnglishG3nt]

A wonderfully refined, genteel way of life that will never be recovered.

[Axbent]

the girls march awful! ;)

[KayceTolayo]

nice movie..watched this in webmovietube for free

[MsJoy15]

the school head mistress was VERY strict,and she could hear a pin drop !!!! liked to use a ruler on the knuckles SO on the whole we were very obedient ... If we didn t behave at school ,our parents were next line of attack and we got another beating from them !!!! best keep your head down and do as you re told .. It worked not many of us turned into Yobs, Thugs ,or general lay a bouts . thank god , my children and grand children also benefitted from that discipline thank you Mrs T

[mrmagicroundcircle]

looks like the school mistress is hard of hearing

[TrainmasterCurt]

Women also looked more like Women back then

[TrainmasterCurt]

The kids are much more behaved than many now!

[NickTheGreek4umyMILF]

please,look at this girl at 2:47,i want to marry her,she looks so normal.If you hate the way that women look and behave today,please thumps up,let those modern slutty girls to know that we just dont want them for girls and wifes ,thups up!!

[tw555555]

thats great but could you imagine children of today lining up like that at the end of playtime it would take a miracle lol

[peterdcarter1]

Black kid wins again, typical. It's diversity gone mad!

[freethoughtmusic]

I was born in a village like this. Ahh, home.

[ravenfires]

wonderfull Isn,t it refreshing not to see a mosque muslim or immigrant on english soil..

[MsJoy15]

Ruby in our"time" we didn t know what racism was !!!!!! different colour skin , so what

we were more astonished that the girls were scared of cows .. don t know where you are coming from .she was , and IS a great person , only people who ARE predudiced would think along those lines, she d , and hell she could be bright green , its people & personalities that matter. .,we were not allowed to call other races black !!!!!! maybe that answers all questions !!!

[chanctonbury63]

@MsJoy15 Yes it does answer all questions. The most truthful observation is almost always the most obvious and simple one. Fully agree.

[MrStablelad]

Just Brilliant

They were such happy Days

Life was fun, As a child you FREE to go where you wanted with in reason

There was NO FAST LANE.

[goinghomesomeday1]

What a joy to see the Union Jack flying (1:40) over the school. Nowadays that would be seen as an offence to our more coloured people living in England.

[clivetemple]

@goinghomesomeday1 'More coloured' than who?

[stoysville]

Beautiful, beautiful England. How I wish we could return to these days when England was England...

[chanctonbury63]

@stoysville And our boys were fighting for their lives.... Anyway after all that we had austerity for years followed by the industrial grime and poverty of the fifties, followed by 20 years of weak government when the Unions ran the country. No I dont look back to the big picture with any longing whatsoever. The countryside where I grew up OK yes, but not the rest.

[2007suresh]

A beautiful film. I sincierely thank the BFI from the bottom of my heart for keeping your traditions alive even in the 21st century. Hope an audio version would come.

[bishyboy1]

these traditions still exist all over England and the UK in general- it just doesnt seem cool to say they do but truth is THEY REALLY DO- England is alive and well, I know my hometown of Ross-on-Wye (where i live) isnt the only example of this truth- Nice Vid

[redro32244]

actually in the old silent films , it came out from lip readers that some rather filthy things were being said by the actors mary pickford being one of the worse offenders .

[ciceroold]

I like this,

The village school depicts a simple humanity and care of children from whatever background they come from, no need to be politically correct here, its a joy.

I was born in 1944

[rubysson57]

@ciceroold

Yeah it's a real joy to see the transformation of your country from Anglo/White to Afro/Asian/Brown. third world , inside three generations. As for Mr. 'Ross on Wye'. Bully for you. Cant say 'England is alive and well' in London.

[incongra]

Nowadays is you tried to make a similar film ( not that people are even allowed to film kids anymore) it would be like Baghdad.

[twyborn29]

@incongra - why like Bagdad? Do Northamptonshire villages look like Iraq these days? Or are you just one of the many youtube racists? This is a charming, fascinating film, shame we have to endure some of the stupid remarks that accompany it.

[incongra]

@twyborn29 Then enjoy your feast of nostalgia and dream of an England which has not existed since Churchill's funeral in 1965.

[MsJoy15]

@kingbleah only an utter moron would think of that

[chanctonbury63]

there actually appear to be two coloured girls in the movie.

[phylliselias]

The teacher comes out to tell them that the following day is the 1st of May and they can come and tell her their choice of child to be crowned Queen of the May. Not very realistic to see boys and girls actually playing together at the same game. They would have played seperately but all in the same playground, but apart from that, it was lovely to see the way we all dressed at that time and looked neat and tidy and cared for.

[CaribAngels]

wow..I remember using my hand as a ruler. memories. I think teachers did their best to integrate. It was the families of the kids that made it challenging for black kids.

[SuperAlexrios]

why i found this video so relaxing? I m very curious how black kids were accept in schools

[khyar]

Wow. What happened to this world? The innocence, the simplicity, the discipline, joy, respect.....

[R0undAboutMidnight]

@khyar The innocence, the joy? This was during a war in which 60 million people died!

[khyar]

@R0undAboutMidnight Yes, but the kids played no part in the war. They are truly innocent. I was referring to this particular scene of "life as usual" in rural England for the time period in question.

[R0undAboutMidnight]

@khyar Well OK then I just thought that you were another Mail looking back with rose tinted glasses.

[OldMrGrace]

@khyar I agree. The war changed the entire world for ever. There is no going back.

[Azizip17]

@mseyman, thanks for ur response which

I'm just reading. My best wishes to u and ur aunts.

Re: "being picked as Mayqueen", you wrote that was the wrong term, but others voted for her, right? It seems from reading these comments that the children in that village in the mid 1940s had less problems with racism then some children in England nowadays. Same for the adults, since the adults then could have vetoed the Black girl being mayqueen but didn't.

Thanks again,

an African Am.sista

[Azizip17]

Oh. Re-reading this I understand you meant she (your aunt who is Black) wasn't picked as the Mayfairy queen for reasons having to do with her race, including the fact that (the summary notes that) this film was made to be shown in African nations.

I'm glad of that.

Best wishes!

[ElsieTeacher]

actly! I'm a teacher in Oxfordshire and am subjected to government training films where it's a case of spot the token white kid!! Our tradition and customs are being wiped out by multiculturalism. This is supposed to be 'Great' Britain. If I suggest we have a May Queen, everyone will be up in arms.

[ElsieTeacher]

It's ok for our British children to learn about Eid and how to pray to Allah. It makes me sick. What would this lovely white english teacher have thought about her future colleagues being made to wear the jihab in class in 2020 and no longer celebrate Christmas at school? I am ashamed of slovenly ,soft multicultural Britain. As a Christian, I have tried to be tolerant, but if we keep bending overbackwards here for Islam, then I shall leave.

[DeathToAllReligions]

@ElsieTeacher

I'm with you 100%. Islam is not English, nor is it civilised! Rout the bastards out, I say, and turn their filthy mosques into grain silos!

[ElsieTeacher]

Amen!

[ElsieTeacher]

Sorry to tarnish a lovely film with my rant.

[DeathToAllReligions]

@ElsieTeacher

Think nothing of it. Your "rant" was a welcome reprieve from the usual PC rubbish that is ruining Western civilisation. I'm an American, spent 4 years in Saudi Arabia and with the hospitality and goodwill of a couple from Yorkshire came to love proper tea, Yes, Minister, the cartoons of Giles and the good sense of Enoch Powell (how they regret not treating him with the respect he deserved!).

Good on yer for your prescience and foresight!

[DeathToAllReligions]

@ElsieTeacher

If only the UK had Enoch Powell now!

Take George Galloway out in the back of Parliament and put a bullet in the bastard's head!!!

[Nulanula]

@ElsieTeacher

You can't be much of a teacher if you didn't yet learn that 'Great' in GB simply means great as in 'big', to differentiate between ('small') Brittany in France all those Norman years ago. I hope you don't teach history...

[DeathToAllReligions]

@lopzilla

You're such a comedian.

[goldentigerclaw1]

All hail the queen of the May !

[59acres]

THey sure did swear alot back then! Every word they said has been edited out.

[highgatemini]

Wht a marvelous film! And we would never have seen it if we hadn't met Stephanie (the May queen) in the grocery store while buying a can of treacle pudding. She looks very much the same 65 years later, and still has that charming smile.

[MsJoy15]

the village is Stanion in Northants,population in 1944 was 300 people, now 1000, but still confined to a small village , no shops now, used to be 5 and 2 pubs still going ..church , chapel & village hall , a very well run primary school,also a pre-school ,several clubs, so pretty much everything we need .l was born here,and l love living here

[kipps2]

An amazing film. Only 65 years ago, it seems further back in time.

[GoldBloded]

@kipps2 It seems like a bygone age my friend, To me it is not that long ago but too many people today it seems an eternity, and looking at modern society its not hard to see why.

[freacls]

omg that little black girl who was curtsaying in the school yard and later crowned May queen is so adorable what a cutie she is

[freacls]

aww the baby duckies are so cute

[MsJoy15]

l am in this film , the fidgety one with a bow in her hair ,standing behind the black twin called Connie, , Stephanie the Mayqueen was my best friend at school , we were reunited 3 yrs ago by her daughter, lots of our memories have been published , and yes we all voted for her to be the Mayqueen, the school children still hold this festival in the village , its a wonderful place to live and l for one are thankfful to enjoy it

[trommie31]

i would like to know more about this for black history month..

[holdingt]

What a fantastic film!

Which village was it filmed in?

[edwards21416]

@MsJoy15 for one are thankful should be i for one am thankful ,good to find yourself on film eh

[rubysson57]

@MsJoy15 and yes we all voted for her to be the Mayqueen, the school

Course you did. it was your need to prove your 'anti prejudice' that did it more than true judgement and merit. We get the same where Ilive. In most local carnivals now (west London) hardly anyone will choose a white may queen, even though it is often only too obvious why.

People like you are just plain depressing.

[MatthewDavidParr]

@MsJoy15 You were so SWEET!

[ingy750]

@MsJoy15 Great movie, I've viewed it at National Film Theatre a few times Where were your memories published? I heard there wa something in the Telegraph. was this recently? I would love to read them

[englishman2000]

a different time wonderful

[brancusi7]

I was told that during WWII when the first US soldiers were billeted in rural Wales they integrated quickly and comfortably. The local people assumed that all Americans were black. Then the white US soldiers arrived and beat up the black US soldiers for the disgraceful crime of dancing with white Welsh women.

[freacls]

thats terrible their was black kids in our school they were one of the gang the 2 black girls hear are so cute and the girl that curtsayed what a sweetheart wonder where they are today

[Azizip17]

Thanks for sharing this. I also was surprised to see the two Black girls in this film. It was interesting to me (as an African American) to see that they appeared to be accepted as just another classmate by their peers and by the adults. And one of the Black girls was "even" selected as the May Queen. Although since I read above that this film was made to show in Britain's African colonies, I'm wondering if the Black girl was chosen on purpose to be the queen. Still it's very interesting.

[routeoz]

nothing creepy about it. may day is a pre chrtistian festival that the xtians adopted [or adapted, lol]

[GlamGlamable]

This must be a silly myth or a short-lived occurence, as the reason I found out about this was through an article in The Observer, which talks about the whereabouts of the May Queen and her family.

[smoochym]

I agree, those festivals are primeval rituals...

[gatheringleaves]

you sound like a total wanker

[tinkernator]

This is wonderful. I really needed something to lighten my day up a bit, and this sure hit the spot.

[ruberyb45]

Unusual too see two black children in a village in 1940's England. I bet most of these kids were Evacuees

[mic33george]

just so charming!

[tvfilmglamdirector]

One word....Discipline.

[saharra22469]

IT's absolutely perfect and beautiful. Who needs voices. This is the way schools and children should be organized and taught today. That's what's wrong in our societies....no manners...no repect.

[avidutubewatcher]

This is fantastic ... please put more on

[DADRENO]

It was just like that - I was there! Thanks!

[wishiwaswize]

I wish there was sound or captions so we could know what is being said, other wise, I enjoy watching these old films!

[BFIfilms]

This film was made by the Colonial Film Unit for screening across Britain's African colonies. As such, like a number of films made by the Unit, it was made without dialogue. Some films, however, would have been accompanied by live narration during the screening.

[caltontongs73]

very unusual to see a black face in those days,now especialy in london its unusual to see a white face!

[loveinacar]

My understanding is that as the film was shot 1944 there was mass evacuations of the cities into the country. She was probably shown as an example of country and city life integration rather than a race issue.

[cocklesandmussels]

Great! What's the music?

[Oglenthorne]

It's called "Springtime in an English Village Theme"

[cocklesandmussels]

Thanks. It includes a number of variations of pieces, for example one starts at 0:50, maybe a children's song or an English folk song. Any idea of the names of these?

[andymooseman]

Keep up the good work :)

[64mung]

I just love old films like this!

Thanks for posting :)

64m >:-)

[lauriebooth]

Brill

[jonnsuz]

The year I was born ! Never know the war wa still raging would you .

[Steveningen]

What a curiosity.

[reluctantpaladin]

Wonderful, as always with BFIfilms! I could (and have) spent hours watching the old films from this era and particularly the earlier films. I'm curious, though, why there isn't "live sound" with this. Was it common to have silent movies instead of "talkies" in 1944?

[ArtJWest]

Recording good sound on location, even for feature films was a considerable undertaking at the time - one of the reasons why many "exterior" scenes in features were shot on sound stages. Apart from the massive sound equipment, a blimped camera had to be used as the smaller "mute" cameras made far too much noise. It wasn't really until the 1960s that recording sound on location for a documentary became relatively easy.

[alexismyran]

this is great, and the kids were cute. =)

[brousseaua]

when you say "identify the young star" do you mean the black girl? Haven't a clue though. I love old stuff like this too!

[impetrioconquest]

She now lives in the U.S..

My mom is the 3rd from the front row with a bow in her hair. Mom said that none of them have seen this film yet. A story about it was just published in the Evening Telegraph with still photos. Hardly any photos of my mother are around of when she was a child - it is priceless to see this!!!

[vanshma]

BFI films should release a dvd of all these old films, serioulsy, think of how many old folks and world war II veterans would by that.

[equalityftw]

not many left... unfortunatly

[Joel4god]

lol

[hardrockerdave94]

I love old stuff like this.