The rise of the teenager! Find teddy boys, coffee bars, pop stars and a Brighton and Liverpool frothing with late-50s/early 60s subcultures.
BFI National Archive presents Living for Kicks. Step into the burgeoning British youth culture of the 1950s and 60s with this selection of excerpts from the BFI National Archive’s Associated-Rediffusion collection. Launched in 1955 as part of the fledgling ITV. Associated-Rediffusion was one of the very first independent television companies that, among other achievements, shook up the world of documentary TV.
In this vibrant compilation, discover the rise of the teenager, the teddy boy and the coffee bar; the importance of pop music to the post-war generation; and the newfound freedoms that have come to define these landmark years in British cultural history.
Includes mini-documentaries…
Fan Fever (1956) – A spirited look at the rise of fandom amongst teenage girls, capturing the rising tide of pop obsession in dance halls and clubs.
Teddy Boys (1956) – A probing snapshot of the Teddy Boy subculture, spotlighting its bold style and the concerns it stirred nationwide.
Cliff Richard (1959) – An early portrait of Cliff Richard as he rises from Britain’s music scene to become a defining pop idol.
Leamington Spa Teddy Boys (1958) A revealing dispatch from Leamington Spa, showing how Teddy Boy culture took root beyond the major cities.
Living for Kicks (1960) A vivid study of youth culture in Brighton as teenagers chase excitement and define their identities in a fast-changing consumer culture.
The Beat City (1963) A fast-paced portrait of Liverpool which captures the energy of youth music culture as it surges through the city’s clubs and dance halls.
Part of Teenage Flicks. Supported by BFI FAN and National Lottery and part of a Rip it Up, UK-wide celebration of youth culture on screen.
