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Learn about the history behind our documentary film archive from the 1940s.
Cambridge
About the film
The University of Cambridge and the life of those who study there.
Details
- Release year - 1945
- Director - Richard Massingham
- Production company - Everyman Films
- Producer - Lewis Grant Wallace
- Cinematographer - Alex Strasser
- Composer - Horace Somerville
- Running time (minutes) - 23 mins 11 secs
Original description
Life at Cambridge University
'The ancient University of Cambridge in its setting of a market town. The film shows many famous streets and colleges and typical scenes of university life. Shots include dinner in hall, a lecture by Sir Lawrence Bragg, F.R.S., degree day at the Senate House and Evensong at King's.'
(Films of Britain - British Council Film Department Catalogue - 1946)
Did you know?
- Several renowned academics appear in Cambridge. Sir Lawrence Bragg (seen at 06:00), in his capacity as Director of the Cavendish Laboratory, would play a part in the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953.
- Historian George Trevelyan (see at 07:00), had earlier been approached by the British Council to write the script for experimental film Magna Carta.
- Others seen in the film include Sir William Spens, composer Patrick Hadley, and Sir John Sheppard.
All films are subject to the Creative Commons licence guidelines.
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