Look at Life (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.
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Episode 1 - Marrakesh
Release Date: 1959-01-01View 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
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Episode 2 - Follow The Stars
Release Date: 1959-01-15Looking at the stars from the astrologer’s, the astronomer’s and the radio-astronomer’s point of view.
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Episode 3 - The Doctor Suggests
Release Date: 1959-01-15Shows how hypnotism has developed from being a stage entertaiment to being a useful tool in the hands of the doctors.
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Episode 4 - A Marriage Is Arranged
Release Date: 1959-01-15 -
Episode 5 - Jumping To Aintree
Release Date: 1959-01-15 -
Episode 6 - Ticket To Tokyo
Release Date: 1959-01-15 -
Episode 7 - Letting Off Steam
Release Date: 1959-01-15 -
Episode 8 - A Dog’s Life
Release Date: 1959-01-15Dogs 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
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Episode 9 - Market Place
Release Date: 1959-01-15Supermarkets contrasted with London street markets.
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Episode 10 - Cause For Alarm
Release Date: 1959-01-15Present day methods to prevent crime often employ mechanical means to give warning.
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Episode 11 - New Roads For Old
Release Date: 1959-01-15 -
Episode 12 - A Car Is Born
Release Date: 1959-01-15 -
Episode 13 - Saving Face
Release Date: 1959-01-15A look at the cosmetics industry.
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Episode 14 - The Divided City
Release Date: 1959-01-15Travelogue - 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
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Episode 15 - Operation Noah’s Ark
Release Date: 1959-01-15Operation Noah’s Ark’ devoted to rescuing animals from an island which was flooded by the Zambesi river.
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Episode 16 - Down London River
Release Date: 1959-01-15Travelogue 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
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Episode 17 - Coffee Bar
Release Date: 1959-01-15Coffee bars and their clientele.
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Episode 18 - Garden Of Tomorrow
Release Date: 1959-01-15A trip around the Chelsea Flower Show.
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Episode 19 - Derby Day
Release Date: 1959-01-15A look at the tradition of Derby Day.
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Episode 20 - Money Talks
Release Date: 1959-01-15A look at the financial institutions of London, including the Royal Mint.
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Episode 21 - Flight On A Cushion
Release Date: 1959-01-15Looks 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.
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Episode 22 - Talking Of Coaches
Release Date: 1959-01-15A look at the advances in coach travel.
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Episode 23 - Seaway
Release Date: 1959-01-15The St Lawrence Seaway and its impact on Canada.
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Episode 24 - Kings Of Speed
Release Date: 1959-01-15A look at the motor racing industry and the part played by British cars and British drivers.
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Episode 25 - Making An Effort
Release Date: 1959-01-15 -
Episode 26 - Village Of Violins
Release Date: 1959-01-15The violin making industry in Mittenwald in the Bavarian Alps.
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Episode 27 - The Black Arrows
Release Date: 1959-01-15Explores the internationally famous formation team and their aerobatic daring in Hunter jets.
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Episode 28 - Ceremonial Soldier
Release Date: 1959-01-15A day in the life of a guardsman.
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Episode 29 - Alpine Rescue
Release Date: 1959-01-15Just 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
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Episode 30 - Down On The Farm
Release Date: 1959-01-15The Royal Agricultural Show and the agricultural industry.
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Episode 31 - Shopping For A "Queen"
Release Date: 1959-01-15Every 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.
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Episode 32 - Channel Tunnel
Release Date: 1959-01-15The possibilities of the construction of a Channel Tunnel.
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Episode 33 - Harvest of Hops
Release Date: 1959-01-15The annual trip to the hop fields in Kent by people living in the East End of London.
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Episode 34 - Pony Tale
Release Date: 1959-01-15A 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.
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Episode 35 - Sailing The Sky
Release Date: 1959-01-15The sport of gliding.
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Episode 36 - Dustmen’s Day
Release Date: 1959-01-08The collection of refuse and its disposal.
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Episode 37 - Let’s Go Dancing
Release Date: 1959-01-15A survey of all that dancing involves from teenage rock ‘n’ roll sessions to exhibition ballroom dancing.
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Episode 38 - Soldier Abroad
Release Date: 1959-01-22The British Army on the Rhine.
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Episode 39 - Island Of Men
Release Date: 1959-01-29A tour of Fair Isle, in the Shetlands, where live three times as many men as women.
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Episode 40 - Bullfighter
Release Date: 1959-02-05Dealing with the professional work of Vincent Hitchcock, the British bullfighter; shots of him training and in action.