Projecting the Archive

Sporting Love + Marry the Girl

+ intro by Rosie Rowan Taylor, Curator of Fiction Film, BFI National Archive

From the early period of British Lion and Hammer, these two rare comedies of farcical romance, weddings and tomfoolery are now only viewable on 9.5mm film.

Sporting Love

  • Director

    J. Elder Wills

  • With

    Stanley Lupino, Laddie Cliff, Eda Peel

  • UK 1936. 40min

  • 9.5mm

 

+ Marry the Girl

  • Director

    Maclean Rogers

  • With

    Sonnie Hale, Winifred Shotter, Hugh Wakefield, Wally Patch

  • UK 1935. 40min

  • 9.5mm

  • Certificate

    U

Many ‘quota quickie’ films of the 1930s are considered lost or unavailable. However, having also been released for the home movie market, some have surfaced in private collections. This is a rare opportunity to see two films, screening in collaboration with Group 9.5, which only survive on 9.5mm film. In Sporting Love, brothers Percy and Peter attempt to woo two sisters so they can inherit money from an aunt to cover their gambling debts. It is followed by Marry the Girl, which finds Wally’s fiancée breaking off their engagement when he is sued for breach of promise by his former girlfriend, with hilarious consequences.

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