Going Shopping with Elizabeth Allan (1955) - extract

"I do a great deal of my shopping here, do come in and help!" invites Elizabeth Allan, in a tone best not argued with, as she strides through Harrods' famous Food Hall. If one needed help in sourcing one's teabags, brandy or Tupperware, one was in luck, as Allan surprisingly bypasses the displays of foie gras to give a typically kitchen-phobic 1950s man a lesson in those newfangled Tetley teabags.

A trip up the 'moving staircase' later and our hostess has progressed to the hard stuff, extolling the joys of Martell 3-Star in the wine department. Next on the list, a grinning blonde saleswoman pushes the Bex Housewares range with gusto ("Incidentally, aren't the lids attractive!"), confirming the suspicion that ordinary British housewives - rather than Knightsbridge's ladies-who-lunch - were the real target of this early 'infomercial'. (Simon McCallum)

This film is part of the BFI Mediatheque touring programme 'Housewives' Choice'. For more information see http://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/mediatheque.htm

You can watch the whole of this film and 1000 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge at the new BFI Mediatheque - http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• BFI
• Harrods
• Knightsbridge
• London
• shopping
• advertising
• advertisement
• 1950s
• Fifties
• 50s
• housewives
• tea

[mrsthursday]

Yes, yes we are.

[METROGNOME57]

Do you get the idea that the Brits are obsessed with tea?

[antoniod]

The actress who Americas saw in the 30s, but not so much after.

[NIETZSCHEAN14]

No non-Whites - excellent.

[tomservo56954]

@rjewles I'd like to know what Elizabeth Allan thinks of the Princess Di memorial in there now.

[tomservo56954]

@OofusTwillip No...in America we specifically refer to 'iced tea" if we want the cold type, and "tea" for the hot.

[Phalanx3800]

Kind of hot for a 40 something lady.

I'd hit it, but since it's 50s prolly has a huge bush...

meh, I digress.

[goinghomesomeday1]

Ah! So Harrods are responsible for the demonic "tea bag".

[vkoo32]

@rjewles As a tourist I liked Selfridges better, I loved the upstairs cafe in Selfridges. I thought Harrods was too overwhelming but magnificent !

[incongra]

By Jove- what a super cup of tea!

[OofusTwillip]

@gmaureen - In the USA, "tea" means cold tea, served with lemon and sugar, unless you specifically ask for "hot tea". If you were to attempt to add milk to this concoction, the lemon would cause the milk to instantly curdle. Which is definitely cringeworthy.

In most other places of the world, "tea" is served hot. Black tea is served either clear (sugar optional) or with milk (sugar optional). Green or white tea is usually served clear (sugar optional), though sometimes milk is added.

[CanadianFan]

the guy with the tea...wasn't he in the beginning of "Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory" as the teacher who taught Charlie?

willy wonka and the chocolate factory teacher-type that in the subject line Mr.Turkentine