New DVDs remember London as it used to be

Online, October 16, 2009 (Newswire.com) - London sees its history brought back to life this week with the release of a series of DVDs from Independent Studios UK and ITN Source New Classics. The eight DVD range entitled London on Film tells the story of lost aspects of London life through rare and original archive film from the capital.

The DVDs take us on a journey through London in days gone by, featuring film from as far back as the 1900s right through to the 1970s. The rare and original archive film included captures a bygone age when men earned their living from the Docks and trams still rumbled through the city streets. The DVDs also include wonderful examples of contemporary newsreels, originally shown in cinemas, with their dramatic orchestral scores and voiceovers in formal, clipped accents.

While the DVDs contain many scenes of everyday life in the capital, there is also film from some important historical moments in London's history - such as Gandhi's visit to East London in 1931, the 1948 Olympics and the last steam train to run on the London Underground in 1971.

"Until now, London's past has been shelved in the vaults of numerous film archives. It is very exciting to bring these old films to light, which show our capital city as it used to be" explains Andrew Gray, Managing Director of Independent Studios UK and the director of the films.

"London is always changing - that's what makes it an exciting place. Thanks to archive film, we are now able to journey into another age and see London as it once was."

Each of the eight DVDs explores an aspect of our capital city's past, with titles such as London's East End 1900s - 1930s and 1940s - 1970s, London's Lost Docks, London in the Fifties Part 1 and Part 2, London's Railways 1920s - 1970s, We Ruled London: The Story of the Krays and upcoming release Haunted London.

The footage included comes from ITN Source, the archive video arm of ITN and the world's leading provider of moving footage. The five year deal with film production company, Independent Studios UK, will see the release of one hundred DVDs using archive film from ITN Source's New Classics collection, which contains rarely seen content shot between 1896 and 1970.

The London on Film DVDs are available to buy from branches of HMV & Waterstones or online at www.archivefilmshop.co.uk, RRP £9.99.