Out of the Archive - 'Heart of an Empire'

In this edition of Out of the Archive we present no less than four versions of Heart of an Empire (1935), a documentary frantically re-edited during the turbulent 30s to reflect changing monarchs and prime ministers. Here you can read Technical Archivist Catherine Pyle's account of how she made sense of the ten separate film elements held in the BFI National Archive.

When I started a technical selection of the 10 elements that we hold of this documentary about St. James's Park in London, it was to determine the best possible source for new preservation material and digital transfer. I soon realized however that there are important differences between some of the elements.

The film contains footage showing key and stately buildings surrounding the park including St. James's Palace and Downing Street. A fade-in of the Prime Minister follows shots of 10 Downing Street, but the same Prime Minister is not portrayed in all the elements. There is also footage of the King's Birthday Parade and the Royal Salute. One scene contains shots of Edward VIII in some elements and George VI in others.

Once I had identified the Prime Ministers were either Stanley Baldwin, Neville Chamberlain or Winston Churchill, I checked the dates of the prints against history and guessed what the reason could be.

The original version, which would have been made in 1935, contains a shot of Edward VIII and a fade in of Stanley Baldwin. Subsequent prints or printing material made between 1936 and 1942 show shots of George VI and a fade in of either Neville Chamberlain or Winston Churchill.

During 1936, when Stanley Baldwin was in power, England had three successive Monarchs. George V, who died in January and was succeeded by Edward VIII, who was never crowned, abdicated in December and was succeeded by George VI. From 1937 – 1940 Neville Chamberlain was in power and from 1940 – 1945 it was Winston Churchill.

My guess is that because the film was used for educational purposes, it was edited and re-edited before being issued to schools, in order to make sure the correct monarch and Prime Minister were being portrayed for the time.

Also the most original version contains a scene of the royal salute during footage of the King's Birthday Parade and during the commentary it's mentioned that the Prince of Wales resides at St. James’s Palace. It’s possible that the Royal salute scene was removed after King George V died. The Prince of Wales became King Edward VIII and no longer resided at St. James’s Palace, so the track was edited to remove the commentary, which says he does.

So there are four versions of this title to include one of two Monarchs, one of three Prime Ministers and a royal salute.

Catherine Pyle
Technical Archivist - BFI National Archive

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