The Box is a major cultural and heritage attraction and archive, which opened in Plymouth’s city centre in September 2020. Its collection, formally the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), is the regional film archive for the South West of England, comprising the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and Television South West (TSW). It also includes a significant number of donated film collections dating back to the early 1890s.
This film is part of Free
Union Street on a Saturday Night
Punters gather for a night out on Plymouth’s famed Union Street.
In partnership with:
Overview
Union Street in Plymouth is a night-time hotspot and the square mile boasts thirty pubs, two strip clubs and the redlight district with some fifteen to thirty prostitutes. The area is patrolled by the military and local police. Licensing laws push punters at pub closing time to carry on drinking in the night clubs. Punters include a mixture of locals, dockworkers and sailors from all around the world. Union Street is a firm favourite with British service personnel.
The street is the longest and straightest in Plymouth and was originally built in the first quarter of the nineteenth century by London architect John Foulston as part of the plan to connect the three towns of Plymouth, Devonport and East Stonehouse. Originally an affluent area, it soon became the hub for the city’s nightlife. In the 1930s surrounding streets were closed by police to keep servicemen and workers from the docks entering the city centre and by the 1960s the area was well-known for its adult entertainment as a go-go and at times, a no-go area. Today it is less popular at night and a conservation area. Regeneration is slowly bringing Union Street back to a life less dependent on the night-time economy.
Related
Watch for free
A Woman Undressing A Woman Undressing
Pornography 1896 1 mins Silent
A treat for Victorian voyeurs - and Britain's oldest erotic film?
Watch for free
Dream Doll Dream Doll
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1979 12 mins Silent
A relationship liable to blow up at any moment is at the heart of this animated short about a man and an inflatable sex doll
Watch for free
Moment Moment
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1969 12 mins
An intimate, unusual encounter with the progressive narrative of orgasm.
Currently unavailable
The Sex Victims The Sex Victims
Horror 1973 37 mins
A truck driver thinks he’s in luck when he meets a strange girl by the road in this supernatural horror short
Watch for free
Beauty in Brief Beauty in Brief
Drama 1955 4 mins Silent Location: London
A young bride-to-be models a modish nylon nightie before a voyeuristic camera in this silent 1950s striptease film.
Watch for free
Xcitement! Xcitement!
Pornography 1960 5 mins Silent
Glamour goddess Pamela Green reveals all in a key ‘60s striptease collaboration with George Harrison Marks.
Watch for free
Dingles of Plymouth Dingles of Plymouth
Advert 1960 1 mins Location: Plymouth
A charming regional commercial for Plymouth’s best loved department store.
Watch for free
Millbay Laundry Millbay Laundry
Advert 1960 0 mins Location: Plymouth
Help keep your relationship on track by outsourcing your laundry!
Watch for free
Comely Caviar Comely Caviar
Current affairs 1984 1 mins Location: Plymouth
Reporter tests the theory of caviar heightening libido.
Watch for free
Model Clipper Sailor Model Clipper Sailor
Current affairs 1965 2 mins Location: Plymouth
Former shipwright turns his talents to model-making.
Watch for free
Field Gun Practice at HMNB Devonport Field Gun Practice at HMNB Devonport
Current affairs 1962 2 mins Location: Plymouth
Gunboat Crews practise the Royal Navy’s field gun drill in preparation for competition.
Watch for free
Last Cooper Last Cooper
Current affairs 1967 5 mins Location: Plymouth
The last apprenticed cooper in the Royal Navy’s Royal William Victualling Yard undergoes a trusso, an ancient rite of passage.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Watch for free
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Watch for free
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.