Betjeman Revisited (DVD) - Description
In 1962 after two best selling books 'Summoned by Bells' and 'Collected Poems' he turned his attention to the medium of TV, his aim, to fulfill his ambition to open our eyes to how beautiful our towns and villages are.
These six short films were discovered 30 years later. Three retain their original soundtrack and the other three have been restored with John Betjeman's original script being read by Nigel Hawthorne:
Swindon & North Lew (Betjeman)
John Betjeman was fascinated by railways. Here he contrasts a town made by railways (Swindon) with another which was ruined by them (North Lew).
Chippenham & Crewkerne (Hawthorne)
Betjeman expresses his horror at the destruction wrought by modern traffic on these two towns.
Devizes (Betjeman)
"This mellow brick capital of the north of Wiltshire" and the prehistoric landscape which stands outside it.
Sherborne (Hawthorne)
"An abbey town of golden ironstone - a town of schools".
Sidmouth (Hawthorne)
Completely in verse this film blends Betjeman's observations and mischief.
Bath (Betjeman)
Betjeman's tour of the "Queen City of the West", accompanied by the music of Handel, who played the organ in Bath Abbey.
An HTV production.
