Made by Miss Hannchen Drasdo, who later went onto direct many of Hull’s road safety films, this artistic and atmospheric film sets out to capture a day in Hull from the early morning fishermen readying the catch of the day to a night on the town in a lively jazz club. The film opens with the HMD Productions Hull logo, a humorous sequence of frames as a spaniel bursts through the paper in parody of the MGM Lion. Title - From Morn Till Midnight The film begins with a view of Hull including...

Made by Miss Hannchen Drasdo, who later went onto direct many of Hull’s road safety films, this artistic and atmospheric film sets out to capture a day in Hull from the early morning fishermen readying the catch of the day to a night on the town in a lively jazz club. The film opens with the HMD Productions Hull logo, a humorous sequence of frames as a spaniel bursts through the paper in parody of the MGM Lion. Title - From Morn Till Midnight The film begins with a view of Hull including the clock tower of the Guildhall and the sun reflecting on the sea at the harbour.  There is a man on a bench in silhouette.  Under the pier a boat passes by. Metal dust bins are left in the street it.  It is early morning, and the streets are empty but for the occasional horse and cart. A pair of cyclists ride away, and there are street scenes and a view of the Cecil Theatre. The hoarding advertises a production ‘The Star Witness.’  There is a brief shot of blanket covered market stalls. There is a shot of the interior of a bedroom.  A hand reaches from beneath the bedclothes and fumbles to turn off the alarm clock on a bedside table.  The table also holds an ashtray and cut crystal glass. Two feet slip into a pair of slippers under the bed.  There is a close up view of the bathroom window with shaving apparatus, as a man gets ready only his hands are visible. A clock on the sideboard shows 8:30am. There is a close shot of bacon cooking in a frying pan, an egg is cracked and added to the pan.  Breakfast is brought through to the table, the still unseen male folds away his Daily Mirror newspaper and grips his hands in anticipation of the meal. He transfers the bacon to another plate and hands it to a partially seen woman who is seated and wearing an apron. There are shots of rhythmical piston movements in an industrial setting.  Machinery and large steam-operated wheels are in motion, and the black and white chequered tiled floor can be seen.  Outdoors there are many ship masts at the quayside dockers/dock workers unload baskets of freshly caught fish.  There is a close up view of hands filleting fish and stacking them into crates. Ice is poured over the crates nailed shut. A large steamer passenger ship arrives, and the passengers file off.  There are views of rail tracks leading to the port, and freight with cranes can be seen in the distance.  There is a shot of the Hull Maritime Museum with dome topped towers.  A low view from the railway tracks as a train steams by.  There is a view of busy roads, cars and bicycles. There is a sign reading “platforms 9-10” and on the side of a train are painted the words “Kings Cross and Hull” and a number “1376.” A woman rushes through the station ticket hall, and a newspaper stall can be seen.  There is a view from a high window looking down onto the street, and a number 8 bus can be seen and a partly obscured street name.  An electric tram passes by, and adverts for “Nice tea” can be seen.  There is a birds-eye shot looking down on the pavement and pedestrians.  The Guildhall with white clock tower is seen again. There is a view down a bustling street towards City Hall with hoardings advertising “Shaving Rooms” and the Wilberforce Monument can be seen in the distance.  There is a view of a large civic building with S and G Tobacco sign displayed. A shot of a busy playground with children playing on a slide, a ‘witches hat’ and a seesaw.  There is a building marked ‘Armstrongs, Upholsterers and Polishers, High Class Woodworkers.’  A military band plays and soldiers and boy scouts are marching. A montage of shots filmed from roughly the same place with bicycles and people filmed at different speeds. There is a low shot of passing pedestrian feet. ‘Wallace and Co’ can be seen on the corner. ‘The Prospect Commercial Hotel and Garage’ is seen and a policeman directs traffic and assists groups of school children to cross the road. There is a view of women in a factory assembly line. An interior shot of ornate restaurant/tearooms with a large central palm. A well-dressed older lady in a feathered hat takes tea whilst there are shots of food being served in a canteen. There is a view out of the window across the street with electric trams visible. The Statue of Queen Victoria outside City Hall can be seen in a bustling street scene. A workman sits eating his lunch watching the world go by. There are shots of architectural details showing the Guildhall and clock tower, lampposts and overhead tram power lines. Title – Stoneferry 18th June 1932 There are views of the docks filmed between structures and girders. A ‘Bass’ brewery advertising hoarding can be seen.  A tall brick factory chimney is demolished in a cloud of rubble and dust whilst a gasometer can be seen in the distance.  There are five chimneys, the central one emitting smoke. An industrial process is observed in a forge. ‘Needlers Ltd.’ can be seen on the side of a factory. There are shots of the University of Hull buildings and City of Hull Municipal Training College.  One building is covered in ivy and an industrial landscape can be viewed on the horizon.  This is followed by the exterior of Hull Hospital for Women, and views inside reveal hospital beds and specialist equipment. Rain is falling.  There are empty streets and views from the rooftops.  There is a series of street level views looking towards the Wilberforce Monument and the street still busy despite the rain. There is an exterior shot of the Holy Trinity Church.  An outdoor market and soup kitchen can be seen. There is a shot of a rather ornate clock and a hand stubs out a cigarette in an ashtray. A game of cards is taking place as cards are dealt to four players. A player’s hand is shown and tea is served. Shots of leisurely pursuits including tennis and cricket are shown but only the bodies are visible. A street scene of ‘F.W Woolworth’ and an aerial shot of a marching band this time lead by a man in a large overcoat playing a banjo.  There are also trumpet and drum players. There is a ferry launching out to sea with the setting sun reflected on the water. The rigging and chimney can be seen. An interior shot of a man seated at a dressing table.  He is dressed in shirt and waistcoat and having his tie adjusted from behind by a woman’s hands. As night falls there are advertising hoarding displaying a clock and the words ‘Guiness is good for you.’  A series of shots follow showing the hands of a trumpet player, a pianist and a drummer in a jazz club. There is a low shot of shuffling feet on a dancefloor including a shot of two pairs of female dancing together. The dress code is unusual with pantaloons and pointed shoes in evidence perhaps a fancy dress party. Night time and only street lights are visible going into the distance.  The film ends with a fire being stoked.