Empire in Britain

In the rhetoric of Empire, Great Britain was the ‘Mother Country’: the ideological, economic and geographical reference point against which life in the colonies was to be measured. Many of these films attempt to show British life to colonial audiences, and often use the device of positioning a colonial subject in Britain. The visitor often plays the role of either a spellbound tourist made welcome in the heart of Empire, or alternatively as an Imperial citizen, warmly embraced within British society. Wartime films typically highlight the contribution made by colonial subjects to the war effort in Britain, and whether they are for British or colonial audiences, these pictures too hope to present the metropole as a welcoming place that appreciates and accepts the people of the Empire.

 
 
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PAGEANT OF EMPIRE (1933) enhanced entry

Empire Day Pageant at the Southern Railway Servants' Orphanage at Woking. Children dressed in scout and guide uniforms parade with ...

ONE FAMILY

ONE FAMILY (1930)has video enhanced entry

A London schoolboy dreams he visits Buckingham Palace, where he makes the King's Christmas pudding from ingredients collected from different ...

 

ROLLICKING RAJAH (1914) enhanced entry

Title card: "Vivaphone" Film. Title card: 'The Rollicking Rajah'. First verse and chorus of 'The Rolling Rajah'. The film set ...

 

PRESTON'S EMPIRE DAY (1909)has video enhanced entry

A record of the Preston Empire Day celebration of 22 May 1909.

A title introduces 'Preston Empire Day May 22nd 1909. ...

 

LANDING OF SAVAGE SOUTH AFRICA AT SOUTHAMPTON (1899)has video enhanced entry

Members of the 'Savage South Africa' troupe at Southampton Docks.

The film shows a group of Africans (Zulus) in full tribal ...