We return for another instalment of our CineSecrets series.
In recent months we’ve been featuring great old footage on our website, ChronicleLive, courtesy of the North East Film Archive, showing the people and places of the region as they were.
The latest offering is a clip from a 1956 film called A River Speaks.
Beginning near the grand arch of the Tyne Bridge, the footage depicts the river as it was nearly 65 years ago - busy with ships and maritime industry - and takes us down to the coast. Part of the clip shows the long-gone Tynemouth Outdoor Pool, a Tyneside location missed by many people, including a group dedicated to regenerating the location.
The film’s style of narration is interesting: “Shrewd, reserved, independent, hardworking, warm hearted and very hospitable...”
But you might not recognise the delightfully well-spoken commentator as she sums up the Geordie character in this month’s film clip which transports us down the busy ‘coaly Tyne’ from the Quayside to the coast.
The voice belongs to the much-loved stage and screen actress from South Shields, Dame Flora Robson, who was one of eight children born to a former ship’s engineer and his wife.
However, she appears to have left her own Geordie accent behind when she went to train at London’s RADA in her late teens!
CineSecrets forms just a small part of a vast catalogue of film collected and preserved by the North East Film Archive (NEFA).
It’s part of the archive’s major new project, North East on Film, which aims to re-connect the people and communities of the region with their film heritage, and provide important glimpses into our history through special screenings, events and online collections.
Meanwhile, NEFA are also looking for more films and videos to add to the collection through their Film Search and Rescue campaign. So if you have some hidden away in a cupboard or loft, do get in touch with the archive.
CineSecrets: Tyneside has been specially curated with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
To find out more about North East on Film and the search and rescue campaign, visit: www.northeastonfilm.com
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Meanwhile, NEFA’s first ever DVD, Newcastle On Film (priced £12 (including postage and packing) is on sale.
You can buy it directly from the NEFA website, or you can pick up your copy at the following Newcastle outlets: Tyneside Cinema Pop-Up Shop, 10 Pilgrim Street; City Library Shop, 1st Floor, 33 New Bridge Street West; The Back Page, 56 St Andrew’s Street.
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