National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
The Iles - in the garden, at the seaside, at Christmas
Life with the Iles family: Summer is for cycling, the seaside, tending to tortoises and meeting delightful collie pups. Christmas is for crackers and the gift of a perfect doll.
From the collection of:
Overview
In the summer the Iles sisters – Monica and Gillian - are filmed in the garden bicycling and tricycling, attending to their menagerie (a budgerigar, 5 tortoises, a white rabbit) and being entertained by grandad and his false teeth. They visit the seaside and are delighted by collie puppies at a farm. Christmas brings visitors and presents, in particular a golden-haired doll, and dad – Reginald George Iles – is seen working the projector for a family film show.
Mr Iles, who died in 1961, lived with his wife – Vera Eileen – and two daughters at a house called ‘Branksome’ – 181 Heathwood Road, Cardiff. From Bristol, he worked for the Bonus Department of Imperial Tobacco in Cardiff and also filmed local shows for the South Wales and Monmouthshire Agricultural and Horse Shows Association [now the Wales and Border Counties A&H Shows Association] of which he was a founder member. His daughters, who are seen at the shows on horse-back, both became well-known horse breeders.
Related
Toys Will Be Toys Toys Will Be Toys
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1988 5 mins Location: South Shields
Barbie dolls in pink battle khaki killing machines in a Christmas animation that cocks a snook at the “Disney Doctrine”.
A Bronte Christmas A Bronte Christmas
Documentary 1980 14 mins Location: Haworth
Richard Whiteley joins children on the Worth Valley Railway Santa’s Special, while the Haworth Town Band sing On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at.
Christmas in Belfast Christmas in Belfast
Government sponsored film 1977 2 mins Location: Belfast
Christmas in Belfast at the height of 'The Troubles'. Not the most wonderful time of year.
Christmas Play Christmas Play
1959 18 mins
Taking the lid off the creative process - of a group of theatrically-minded 11-year-olds as they stage the nativity.
A Christmas Carol A Christmas Carol
Fantasy 1914 23 mins Silent
A well-acted early version of Charles Dickens' much loved Christmas story, featuring some impressive ghost sequences.
Wartime Cinema Christmas Greeting Wartime Cinema Christmas Greeting
Announcement 1940 1 mins
A thoughtful Christmas message in hope of peace from early in WWII - the absence of loved ones hit hardest at holiday times.
Great Central Railway Great Central Railway
News 1962 5 mins Location: Chesterfield
Doctor Beeching sounds the death knell for the Great Central main line.
Americans Americans
Home movie 1942 2 mins Silent Location: Heath
John' and 'Johnny', two American GIs billeted in with the Iles family in Heathwood Road, Cardiff, enjoy a bit of fun with their new friends and neighbours.
Branksome', Heathwood Road, Cardiff Branksome', Heathwood Road, Cardiff
Home movie 1940 10 mins Silent Location: Heath
It's war-time and the garden, where the Iles sisters continue to play, houses an air raid shelter beneath the rockery, and Dad is a Civil Defence Warden.
"V.E." Celebrations "V.E." Celebrations
Amateur film 1945 11 mins Silent Location: Whitchurch
The war is over at last and Victory in Europe Day is celebrated on 8/5/1945 at the Iles home in Heathwood Road, Cardiff, and with parties in Heathway and Albert Street.
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.
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.
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.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
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.
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.