First ever film of Manchester United unearthed in new 91Èȱ¬ series
The
Lost World of Mitchell & Kenyon, Friday 14 January 2005, 91Èȱ¬ TWO,
9.00pm
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This scratchy, foggy picture may not be the clearest
ever seen. But forget the quality, this is a world exclusive.
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In a new 91Èȱ¬ series, The Lost World of Mitchell &
Kenyon (Friday 14 January, 91Èȱ¬ TWO, 9.00pm) this unique footage is the
first ever film of the most famous football club in the world - Manchester
United.
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Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon filmed the match between
Burnley and Manchester United at Turf Moor, Burnley on 6 December 1902.
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Manchester United are in the darker shirts, red as today.
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Burnley are in lighter green, before they changed to
their famous claret and blue.
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Manchester United are playing their very first season
as Manchester United.
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They had been called Newton Heath, and almost gone bankrupt
the previous year. A rich local brewer rescued the club and nearly renamed
it Manchester Central before this was rejected as sounding too much
like a railway station.
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The film was meant to be shown at the Burnley Mechanics
Institute that evening.
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But Manchester United won two-nil so the film was suppressed,
the showing cancelled.
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The film has never been seen before by an audience
but will be shown in episode two of The Lost World of Mitchell &
Kenyon on Friday 21 January.
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This three-part series was made after a local film historian
made an amazing archive discovery whilst rummaging in a shop basement
in Lancashire: 800 films from pre-First World War were found in sealed
barrels which give an unparalleled visual record of Edwardian British
life.
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Highlights include a Crimewatch reconstruction from
1901 and a silent interview with the last soldier to receive the Victoria
Cross from Queen Victoria herself.
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The series brings the archive alive using interviews
with the descendants of the people captured on film and specially made
silent movies.
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Shot by pioneering film-makers Mitchell & Kenyon,
the discovery of this archive collection will rewrite British film history.
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The entire collection of films has being restored by
the British Film Institute.
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The Lost World of Mitchell & Kenyon is a co-production
between the 91Èȱ¬ and BFI.
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