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Cambridge

1931 , Cambridge (Cambridgeshire)

Cat no. 1803

A day in the life of a student at the University of Cambridge, including many scenes in and around Cambridge.

The opening shots are of statues in the city and of the rooftops of the university against the skyline. There is a shot of King's College Chapel. A shot of a clock shows 6.00am. The college servants begin their daily bustle as they clean the college. The porter opens the gates, a car is driven out of a garage and someone puts the kettle on. A servant tries to wake two undergraduates. This is not easy and takes a long time. There are shots of the streets of Cambridge showing the Senate House and Trumpington Street. At 8.55am, the undergraduate comes to the dining table to eat breakfast, still adjusting his dress and reading. Having discovered that he doesn't really have time for any of this, he rushes out to a lecture. There are further shots of the Senate House and Gonville and Caius College. A lecturer hurries to work, entering the St. John's College extension. There are many bicycles outside. Inside the hall, he gives a spoof lecture. This is totally muddled and finishes by advising undergraduates to read his books. Our tardy undergraduate looks very bored and eventually falls asleep. This is contrasted with the modern bustle and 'get up and go' of the engineering laboratory. Here machines are filmed in motion. At 12.00pm, undergraduates leave the lecture hall. There are scenes of Trinity Street, some of which are shot from a moving vehicle. The next sequence shows the leisure activities of the University. A young man and woman go down by the River Cam where they take out a punt. A rowing eight carry out and launch their boat. There are scenes showing preparation for a game of cricket, polo, tennis and golf. There are aeroplanes on the aerodrome and a man dives into the river. A gun fires and everything begins. The sound effects and the film montage of the above convey and idea of everything happening together. The final sequence conveys the calm after the storm. There are peaceful shots of the Backs. The young couple walk by the river and enjoy a picnic. The golfer packs away his clubs, stumps are drawn and the net lowered. The final shots are of reflections in the water.

Featured Buildings

Gonville and Caius College; King's College Chapel; University of Cambridge; Cambridge University; Engineering Laboratory; The Senate House

Keywords

Student life; Students; University of Cambridge

  • Distributor : Wardour Films

  • Director : F. Stuart Legg

  • Director : G.F. Noxon

  • Camera : Jack Parker

  • Sound : D. Howells

  • Music : Patrick Hughes

Manifestations

Cambridge

Copyright restrictions apply.

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