BFI

This cheery newsreel item was released to coincide with the annual mass migration of London's East Enders to the hopfields of Kent every September. With its title's humorous mocking of Cockney speech and its light subject and treatment, 'Oppin by Motaw!' is typical of the upbeat joviality favoured by Topical Budget in its lighter items.

The annual hop-picking season was much anticipated by London's poor working classes, not only for the valuable extra income it offered, but also for the chance of fun family gatherings in the clean country air. For poor city dwellers, travelling 'by motaw', however crowded and uncomfortable, would have been considered a cut above any other form of transport.

The event appears to have become a recurring fixture on the Topical calendar, as can be seen from a similar piece, 'Oppin Makes You Earty' (Topical Budget 731-2, 1925).

Sue Woods

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