Look at Life

8.0
1959

Look at Life was a regular British series of short documentary films of which 507 were produced between 1959 and 1969 by the Special Features Division of the Rank Organisation for screening in their Odeon and Gaumont cinemas. The films always preceded the main feature film that was being shown in the cinema that week. It replaced the circuit's newsreel, Universal News, which had become increasingly irrelevant in the face of more immediate news media, particularly on television with the launch of ITN on the Independent Television service, which began broadcasting in parts of the United Kingdom in 1955.

Seasons

40 Episodes • Premiered 1959

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 1: Marrakesh

1. Marrakesh

View of Marrakesh, men riding on donkeys whilst commentary describes the position of Marrakesh CU of a camel. Camels being led: the market place: Arabs meet to talk or to drive a bargain: commentary gives a brief history of Marrakesh

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 2: Follow The Stars

2. Follow The Stars

Looking at the stars from the astrologer’s, the astronomer’s and the radio-astronomer’s point of view.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 3: The Doctor Suggests

3. The Doctor Suggests

Shows how hypnotism has developed from being a stage entertaiment to being a useful tool in the hands of the doctors.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 4: A Marriage Is Arranged

4. A Marriage Is Arranged

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 5: Jumping To Aintree

5. Jumping To Aintree

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 6: Ticket To Tokyo

6. Ticket To Tokyo

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 7: Letting Off Steam

7. Letting Off Steam

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 8: A Dog’s Life

8. A Dog’s Life

Dogs as pets, including the Queen’s corgis, and as working dogs - gun dogs, sheep dogs, guide dogs, police dogs and guard dogs. Also shows breeders, veterinarians, the People’s Dispensary

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 9: Market Place

9. Market Place

Supermarkets contrasted with London street markets.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 10: Cause For Alarm

10. Cause For Alarm

Present day methods to prevent crime often employ mechanical means to give warning.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 11: New Roads For Old

11. New Roads For Old

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 12: A Car Is Born

12. A Car Is Born

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 13: Saving Face

13. Saving Face

A look at the cosmetics industry.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 14: The Divided City

14. The Divided City

Travelogue - Berlin. Panning aerial shots: the Mayor’s offices: Emperor William Memorial Church (94): Willy Brandt, Mayor of West Berlin, arriving in London on April 21st 1959 for discussion

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 15: Operation Noah’s Ark

15. Operation Noah’s Ark

Operation Noah’s Ark’ devoted to rescuing animals from an island which was flooded by the Zambesi river.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 16: Down London River

16. Down London River

Travelogue of the River Thames. Shot of: Big Ben: the Embankment: people boarding a pleasure boat at Westminster: people buy tickets: the steamer sets off: the Houses of Parliament

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 17: Coffee Bar

17. Coffee Bar

Coffee bars and their clientele.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 18: Garden Of Tomorrow

18. Garden Of Tomorrow

A trip around the Chelsea Flower Show.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 19: Derby Day

19. Derby Day

A look at the tradition of Derby Day.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 20: Money Talks

20. Money Talks

A look at the financial institutions of London, including the Royal Mint.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 21: Flight On A Cushion

21. Flight On A Cushion

6.0

Looks at the development of the Saunders-Roe SR.N1 hovercraft, the first full-size experimental model, and its maiden flight across the English Channel. Includes an interview with Christopher Sydney Cockerell, inventor of the hovercraft, who demonstrates his original model made of tin cans, and Peter Lamb, test pilot for the hovercraft.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 22: Talking Of Coaches

22. Talking Of Coaches

A look at the advances in coach travel.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 23: Seaway

23. Seaway

The St Lawrence Seaway and its impact on Canada.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 24: Kings Of Speed

24. Kings Of Speed

A look at the motor racing industry and the part played by British cars and British drivers.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 25: Making An Effort

25. Making An Effort

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 26: Village Of Violins

26. Village Of Violins

The violin making industry in Mittenwald in the Bavarian Alps.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 27: The Black Arrows

27. The Black Arrows

Explores the internationally famous formation team and their aerobatic daring in Hunter jets.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 28: Ceremonial Soldier

28. Ceremonial Soldier

A day in the life of a guardsman.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 29: Alpine Rescue

29. Alpine Rescue

Just four men, Swiss glacier pilots, have mastered the art of landing light aircraft on the glaciers and snowfields of the Alps, rescuing injured or stranded climbers in situations difficult to

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 30: Down On The Farm

30. Down On The Farm

The Royal Agricultural Show and the agricultural industry.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 31: Shopping For A "Queen"

31. Shopping For A "Queen"

Every fortnight the liner the Queen Elisabeth has to be completely restocked and this is a mammoth housekeeping operation which has to be completed in 48 hours.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 32: Channel Tunnel

32. Channel Tunnel

The possibilities of the construction of a Channel Tunnel.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 33: Harvest of Hops

33. Harvest of Hops

The annual trip to the hop fields in Kent by people living in the East End of London.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 34: Pony Tale

34. Pony Tale

A film of a pony from the time it is rounded up in the forest until, with its young rider astride, it enters for the high spot of the pony-riding year.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 35: Sailing The Sky

35. Sailing The Sky

The sport of gliding.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 36: Dustmen’s Day

36. Dustmen’s Day

The collection of refuse and its disposal.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 37: Let’s Go Dancing

37. Let’s Go Dancing

A survey of all that dancing involves from teenage rock ‘n’ roll sessions to exhibition ballroom dancing.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 38: Soldier Abroad

38. Soldier Abroad

The British Army on the Rhine.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 39: Island Of Men

39. Island Of Men

A tour of Fair Isle, in the Shetlands, where live three times as many men as women.

Still image for Look at Life season 1 episode 40: Bullfighter

40. Bullfighter

Dealing with the professional work of Vincent Hitchcock, the British bullfighter; shots of him training and in action.

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