Documentary 7min

Manchester Band of Hope Procession (1901)

A temperance society decries the demon drink on the streets of Edwardian Manchester.
Rating:

Facts
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Titles
(Alternative) Mitchell and Kenyon 173 Manchester B.H.
(Alternative) Mitchell and Kenyon 441 Manchester B/H Procession
(Alternative) Mitchell and Kenyon 442 Manchester Bh
(Alternative) Mitchell and Kenyon 173 Manchester Band of Hope Procession
(Alternative) Mitchell and Kenyon 441 Manchester Band of Hope Procession
(Alternative) Mitchell and Kenyon 442 Manchester Band of Hope Procession
Production
Distribution
(UK, DVD, 2005) British Film Institute
Categories
Actuality Film Black and White Charity Documentary Parade People Procession Short Silent Film Temperance Temperance Movement
Descriptions

"Christian charity the Band of Hope was formed in Leeds in 1845 and encouraged people to sign 'the pledge' to abstain from alcohol. It was particularly concerned about the number of children frequenting alehouses, which is no doubt why there are so many taking part in this procession. Its slow progress gives us a nice opportunity to admire everyone in their Sunday best."

Source: BFI


Procession of people carrying religious banners. Note: B.H. in title stands for Band of Hope. A temperance procession meant to promote a healthy and enjoyable life. See Andrew Prescott's article "'We had fine banners': Street Processions in the Mitchell and Kenyon Films" in "The Lost World of Mitchell and Kenyon:Edwardian Britain on Film" (2004), bfi Publishing. (Synopsis) M&K 441: Religious/temperance parade in Manchester. (Synopsis) M&K 173: Replacement title (0.07) Boys in procession marching towards camera carrying banners, the first saying, "Success to our school" and the second, "Parents, consider your example". Horses drawing a bus and a carriage follow (0.17) A marching band of men in bowler hats playing brass instruments follows with a banner behind, "Ragged School 1889". Procession continues with little girls in white dresses, women then boys and a bus, behind the crowds, goes in the opposite direction, with an advert for "Reckitts Blue" on the back. Well dressed women and more banners follow in the procession. (1.28) Procession continues with more banners, "Buy bread instead of beer", "Eschew evil and do good", "Our Lord is on our side", "Pledged in a noble cause - lead us not into temptation" (2.16) Another marching band wearing peaked caps and more of the procession (2.25) (Shotlist) M&K 441: Replacement title (0.07). Procession down crowd-lined street led by band (right to left past camera). Many banners in evidence - a barrel with sign `To Let', `No No' surrounding a cross, `God is Love', `The Bible our guide', ` Feed my lambs', `Parents consider your example', `Success to our school' (1.21mins). (Shotlist) M&K 442: Replacement title (0.07). Procession down crowd-lined street (right to left past camera). Children in parade are followed by huge banner and other smaller banners, marching brass band with banner - with the sign `Drink no Wine', more children and banners, including one reading `Success to our Band of Hope,' others with `Union is strength', `Why not Abstain', `Resist temptation resolutely', `No beer in this child's home'. A horse-dawn bus with the destination Ashton moves alongside the parade. Another large banner, `Sign for the sake of the children; For God and home and native land'; girls, dressed in white, skipping, followed by more children and banners (3.02). (Shotlist)

Features on the bfi DVD release of 2005 'Electric Edwardians:The Films of Mitchell & Kenyon. Running order: 173, 441, 442.

Source: BFI

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Cast
Unavailbale.
Crew
Sagar Mitchell - Producer
James Kenyon - Producer
Reviews
by
Gravatar
As good as a parade film from the time gets

Of all the parades films made from early film, this was definitely the most interesting one. Temperance was a hot topic and children were encouraged to take the pledge against alcohol - resulting in a mass movement. In this parade, there are lots of children together with adults, and half the fun is to watch all the creative paroles and banners that are shown. The whole film, at BFI, is 7 minutes long and not 3 as most sources tell, so there is a lot to watch. The high point may be the children that carry a baby on a throne with the text "No beer in this child's home" or the "Buy bread instead of beer" banner. There is so much going on here that it's well worth a watch as preserved history.