Newsreel film

Puffer · January 13, 2010

British Pathe (which was a major newsreel producer for some 75 years up to the 1970s) has some 3,500 hours of footage available for free 'preview' online. It is perfectly watchable, albeit in smallish format - it gets a little grainy if blown up to full screen.

By way of example, this 1977 film deals with platform shoes in terms of fashion and wearability: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=74056

If one searches the archive using suitable terms, all manner of interesting and historic shoe-related and other material can be seen. It helps not to be too specific as more stuff often appears in response to a general search such as 'fashion' or 'footwear'.

Saturn · January 18, 2010

Nice clip! Lots of interesting people, and you can even see a nice white pair in the shop window (in the background).

manoleat · January 24, 2010

This archive was an asbutely great find, Puffer! Thanks for that.

Beside many interesting clips I think this one is remarkable:

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=64201

Have fun,

manoleat

Puffer · January 24, 2010

Yes, a good clip, manoleat. These 1950s shoe fashions seem quite familiar, don't they - especially the heel-less mule which was seen again not so long ago.

How about this one with its implied criticism of early-60s shoe fashion:

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=70122 Pity that there is no commentary but we can guess that stilettos and pointed toes were not being praised!