St James's Palace, London (1926)

Claude Friese-Greene's 'The Open Road' is available to buy on DVD

This extract comes from Claude Friese-Greene's 'The Open Road' - originally filmed in 1925/6 and now re-edited and digitally restored by the BFI National Archive. Britain seen in colour for the first time was heralded as a great technical advance for the cinema audience - now we can view a much improved image, but one which still stays true to the principles of the colour process.

The rather haphazard journey from Land's End to John O'Groats creates a series of moving picture postcards. Look out for shots containing the component colours - red and blue-green - such as when a little girl in a red coat and hat walks among peacocks in the grounds of a castle, and three girls with red curly hair pose by the sea at Torquay.

The car is a Vauxhall D-type - considered a sporty model at the time. A long-distance journey by car was a relatively new concept, with none of the amenities en route now taken for granted. The visit to a petrol station shows smoking on the forecourt: no health and safety issues back then! The travelogue ends with a series of recognisable London landmarks. Much remains the same - one major exception being the volume of traffic on the roads. (Jan Faull)

For more information about 'The Open Road' see http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/openroad/

You can watch the whole of 'The Open Road' and over 1200 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge at the new BFI Mediatheque - http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque

BFI 1920s St James's Palace London Guardsmen parade

Coldstream Guards: Wellington Barracks [Changing of the Guard]

The Regimental Band of the Welsh Guards and the Coldstream Guards march into Wellington Barracks after the Changing of the Guard ceremony.

Changing The Guard Buckingham Palace London England Britain British Foot Guards Bearskin Tradition Military Parade Coldstream Welsh Wellington Barracks

Jackson Sought Propofol "Anesthesia Addict" | TMZ.com

Jackson Sought Out Anesthesia

Posted Jul 3rd 2009 3:10PM by TMZ Staff

Michael Jackson made the rounds at L.A. doctors' offices, often getting anesthesia for minor outpatient procedures -- procedures that did not require anesthesia.

Medical sources say Jackson would get cosmetic surgery, collagen injections, Botox and acne treatment for which he would often be put under or sedated, even when it was not medically necessary.

One medical source described Jackson as "an anesthesia addict."

We're also told Jackson would get controlled substances, such as Demerol, during and after these minor procedures.

The question now -- which docs were happy to oblige the singer?

As we first reported, police found the anesthesia Propofol in Jackson's house after he died, and it's looking like that's the drug that killed him.

Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Celebrity News | TMZ.com

Ronnie Biggs - Great Train Robber Robbed! | The Sun |

Robbed ... Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs

GREAT Train Robber Ronnie Biggs couldn't escape his jail sentence this week, to many MY Sun users' dismay.

The robber, who was jailed for 30 years for his part in the robbery of £2.6 million in 1965, was set to be released but was left stunned after Justice Minister Jack Straw refused his parole.

But Biggs, who cannot walk, eat or drink, is no longer a threat according to some on MY Sun.

MugginsNo1 said: "This is an old, sick man in his 80th year who played a small part in the Great Train Robbery 46 years ago.

He should have been released years ago. He is no threat to anyone.

"This is a matter of what is justice and injustice. Before the Great Train Robbery this man worked as a carpenter and paid his tax, which is a lot more than many have done these days."

Despite his crime, weefatshug reckons the time behind bars is excessive: "There are folk who commited worse crimes that have already been released!"

jojo873 added: "He has done enough time. Why is it okay to keep him locked up so much longer than child killers?"

He stuck two fingers up at justice and now should do time for it.

Biggs, who was rushed to hospital after declaring he has "nothing left to live for", doesn't get any sympathy from mombser2.

He said: "Here is a guy who committed a crime and was sentenced for that crime. He did a runner, he is no hero. His sentence should stand as he normally would have had it increased for absconding.

"He should certainly have the medical treatment for his bad health - IN THE NICK".

hottenrider has nothing but contempt for Ronnie: "He did the crime then he should do the time. He went sunning it up in Spain, laughing at the justice system and now he wants back in so he can get full medical help for his problems."



It's time Biggs did his sentence, reckons Mikethecarebear.

"Ronnie should stop whining on about his 'injustice' and bloody well do his time. If he didn't want to do porridge, he shouldn't have gone round robbing trains."

Was Jack Straw right to refuse parole for Biggs?

Or is his place behind bars?