Mitchell and Kenyon

If you ever get a chance to see this Edwardian film go for it.

It consists of 28 hours of film found in an old photographers shop in Blackburn in Lancashire. I saw it with my wife at Cambridge Film Theatre today and it is exquisite.

You see a typical street scene and amongst the ladies you’ll see someone who really does take her waist seriously. Not once but several times. In one scene there is a procession for a degree ceremony at Birmingham University. Lots of trim ladies!

The actual moving film which shows the girls as they turn shows that not all waists were natural.

The other interesting thing is that in the crowd scenes you’ll see the occassional black face. Something that the politicians of the right would have you believe were not in the UK in the 1900’s.