Amateur Film by Lieutenant Sidney Sasson

Sidney Sasson | 1945 | 4 mins (extract)

Streamers and confetti float down from open windows as London celebrates victory on VE day. Londoners take to the streets around Piccadilly Circus dancing, kissing and at one point doing an impromptu conga. Women are stylishly dressed, playing up to the camera or marching with US troops waving the American flag. Couples leap into fountains with gay abandon and rolled up trousers. The mood of this lovely little colour Eastman Kodak film is one of triumphant jubilation and it is very infectious – this is one moment in history which would have been great to be a part of. Thankfully it was captured on film for us all to enjoy by Lieutenant Sidney Sasson, an American army officer based in London who was part of an army film-making operation that included the Hollywood directors John Ford and William Wyler.