On April 17, British Pathé made 85,000 historical movie clips and videos available on its YouTube channel. The footage spans nearly a century, from the 1890s through the 1970s. It includes anything from major news headlines, like the Hindenburg disaster and the death of Marilyn Monroe, to more slice-of-life snippets of Western culture, like a clip on a French flea circus from 1949 ("Next time, don't forget the DDT," the narrator reminds us). The archive is also particularly strong in WWI and WWII footage.
In an interview on British Pathé's blog, Alastair White, general manager of the London-based media company, expressed his hopes that the project will bring history to a broader audience: “Our hope is that everyone, everywhere who has a computer will see these films and enjoy them...this archive is a treasure trove unrivalled in historical and cultural significance that should never be forgotten. Uploading the films to YouTube seemed like the best way to make sure of that.”
Of course, historians recognize that while film can be a valuable source, it is also a potentially problematic one; viewers may be apt to see film as more objective, if not naked in its honesty. British Pathé has given the world a highly valuable resource, yet its assertion that the clips should "never be forgotten" seems a vague and ambiguous goal. Is it enough that this footage is simply out there for entertainment and enjoyment? Is it a good first step, at least? How can historians capitalize on it?
On a final, less serious note, YouTubers seem apt to use historical footage for inventive, entertaining purposes. Two of my personal favorites are "Roots of Breakdance", starring Soviet soldiers backed by Run DMC, and "Hitler Sings 'The Jeffersons' Theme", which syncs Triumph of the Will footage with the theme song of the popular American TV show. The British, coincidentally, were a bit ahead in 1941 with their comedy reel "Schichlegruber Doing the Lambeth Walk (Assisted by the Gestapo Hep-Cats)". If there is any historical constant, it seems to be our need for humor now and again.
If you have used film footage in your research and/or teaching, please share your experiences with us. And feel free to share your favorite historical (original or creatively modified) videos as well.
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