Holiday (1957) - extract

'Holiday' is available to buy on the British Transport Films compilation DVD 'See Britain by Train' - http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/...

Few films have captured the kiss-me-quick pleasures of Blackpool more colourfully, energetically and convincingly than 'Holiday'. Made by British Transport Films, it chronicles a day in the life of this most British of seaside resorts as it's invaded by people hell-bent on getting the most fun possible from their precious holidays.

It is certainly no chaste and po-faced trip. Among the candy floss and donkey rides the camera spies canoodling lovers; it lingers over near-naked flesh; captures some very suggestive shellfish-eating and offers images that must be among the most homoerotic in British cinema of the 1950s.

Cinematographer David Watkin (who sadly died on 19 February 2008) achieved this level of intimacy by hiding his camera away from prying eyes under a cardboard box on the top of his van, presumably not worrying too much whether or not his subjects ever got round to signing release forms. (Robin Baker)

All titles on the BFI Films channel are preserved in the vast collections of the BFI National Archive. To find out more about the Archive visit http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collect...

• Category

  Travel & Events

[frankiefelix]

Thank you so much for this. :-) This is the Blackpool I remember as a small child where the sun always shone, the promenade was beautiful and nobody dropped litter.

[deswalk]

Wonderful stuff. I was a kid at that time but I remember it just like this. Those lovely girls at the Miss Great Britain contest will be lovely old grannies now! An England that is long gone that we shall not see again.

[Holloways Poulton]

Fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

[monjiaitaly]

it;s nice to see people wearing decent clothes.

[featherfingersuk]

That final shot 4.48+ might just be the best thing I've ever seen on Youtube. Is it still serving?

[rippingdon]

Not an XL nylon tracksuit in sight!

[fordlandau]

bet the water was freezing cold...

[John Robertson]

WHAT GREAT DAYS THEY WERE

[Choowbz]

unigateman-

I was around then,. i was even there that year.

Not many virgins on my count.

Wonderfull place in a time of ill fitting clothing. button flys and brasers.

This clip looked so fresh it took me right back.

I could almost taste the rock.

[unigateman]

wasn't around then looks great, innocence is a good thing. imagine the woman How many virgins? nice to see the soldier on the prom, national service.

[j4wn]

What a gem!

[Synthsound1]

I think one of the rollercoasters is still at blackpool today.