This classic documentary about the British at leisure arose from director Humphrey Jennings’ work as one of the founders of the Mass Observation movement (still extant to this day).

This clip has long been described as featuring a ‘kazoo band’, though their buzzing plastic horns seem to be closer to the modern vuvuzela, as controversially featured in South Africa’s World Cup 2010 matches.

Mass Observation sought to document ordinary people in their natural environment by recording everyday conversations and aspects of social behaviour. To this source material, Jennings brings an eye that was already thoroughly steeped in Surrealism: the mock-triumphant shot of ‘Britannia’ being raised aloft is swiftly undermined by a cut to a caged lion. The commentary is by Laurie Lee, future author of ‘Cider with Rosie’. (Michael Brooke)

This film is taken from the permanent Mediatheque collection ‘Essentially British’, over 100 films and TV programmes celebrating Britain in all its diversity and eccentricity. It is also available on the BFI DVD compilation ‘The GPO Film Unit Volume 3: If War Should Come’.