How did people keep up-to-date with what was happening at home and abroad before the advent of the internet and 24-hour news? Aside from newspapers, it was the newsreels that provided the British public with a unique window on to the world. From royalty to revolutions, war to weather, and holidays to horseracing, the newsreels covered a huge variety of topics. They were an extremely popular form of entertainment in the first half of the last century, watched by millions in cinemas across the country as an integral part of a general film programme.

In this introductory film, we examine what newsreels were, the kinds of topics and issues they covered, where they were watched, and how they were made. Alongside a rich selection of footage, documents and imagery, expert commentary and analysis not only illustrates why newsreels are fascinating for their unique content, but also why they are still so valuable today as historical records of our 20th century past.