One of my favourite London films is the 1967 documentary ‘The London nobody knows’. In it James Mason wanders the streets of pre gentrification Camden and Spitalfields, and finds a Dickensian world co existing with the celebrated swinging London we are far more familiar with. Most people’s circumstances were far less bleak than those depicted in this documentary. However to ordinary Londoners who lived through this time its representation of working class London life probably has more in common with their recollections of the 1960’s than footage of Carnaby street and the Kings Road in all their pomp. For good or bad, most of the world depicted here has disappeared. This makes ‘The London nobody knows’ a valuable piece of social history that provides a different take on a decade most often seen through rose tinted spectacles. It also serves as a reminder of what a nice chap James Mason was.
2 comments:
In part 2 the little dustcarts shown look to me like Scammell Scarabs, which used to be used everywhere in those days.
Where I live now is on the site of the old Scammell factory in Watford, now a little estate of flats.
A fantastic documentary. I enjoyed it a lot.
I found that the film has loads of little 'I remember them!' moments. Particularly the meths drinkers. What do they drink nowadays?
Post a Comment