BBC TRADE TEST COLOUR FILMS 

AND SERVICE INFORMATION

TITLES AND SCHEDULES

by
Malcy B

 

THE PRE-1967 SET

It was as early as 5th November 1962 that documentary evidence exists of the occurrence of an experimental BBC 625-line colour transmission.  On that date the films Coupe Des Alpes, Trawler Boy and Journey into the Weald of Kent were first screened, and this was the start of what proved to be regular tests in the following week and then beyond, featuring a number of other well-known films from later years such as Diavolezza, Skyhook, Power to Fly and The Captive River. Similar transmissions occurred sporadically during the rest of 1962 and 1963, and various other colour films appeared that never quite made it as far as the final run up to the official opening of BBC2.  Furthermore, as these early tests had a double purpose, 625-line transmission and colour, some of the films used were actually black and white.

Title

Source

Duration

First

Last

AN ACT OF FAITH

BBC

23 mins

13/12/62

27/11/63

BLOOD CAN WORK MIRACLES

Shell

12 mins

25/11/67

14/12/67

CLEAN AIR

Shell

21 mins

15/11/62

16/03/67

THE COACH TRAVELLERS

Shell

20 mins

10/05/67

09/09/67

DETERGENTS UP TO DATE (1 screening)

Shell

19 mins

22/08/66

22/08/66

DISCOVERY OF A LANDSCAPE

BBC

29 mins

18/03/63

05/11/63

DOWN TO THE SEA

BBC

29 mins

02/04/63

24/11/63

ELECTRONS IN HARNESS (2 screenings)

Mullard

50 mins

27/08/65

02/12/65

EMPTY SEAT (2 screenings)

Shell

23 mins

22/08/66

23/08/66

EVENTFUL BRITAIN

British Travel Association

25 mins

25/03/67

23/08/67

FORTH ROAD BRIDGE (2 screenings)

Shell

20 mins

11/03/67 11/03/67

HANDLE WITH CARE

Shell

23 mins

12/03/63

20/11/63

THE HEART IS HIGHLAND

BTC

20 mins

06/11/62

11/04/64

HYDRAULIC POWER TRANSMISSION

Shell

28 mins

25/03/64

21/04/67

JOURNEY INTO HISTORY

BTC

11 mins

14/11/62

26/11/63

MACHINES ON THE FARM

Shell

29 mins

10/11/62

17/04/67

MOUNTAIN ROAD (2 screenings) Central Office of Information

25 mins

11/07/67

11/07/67

NO CLAIMS BONUS

CCI

5 mins

09/12/66

25/01/67

NORTH WEST 200

Shell

13 mins

31/03/67

24/11/67

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (1 screening) British Transport

17 mins

10/07/67

10/07/67

OMNIBUS (FOR ALL)

British Transport

18 mins

05/07/67

27/11/67

OVERHAUL

British Transport

16 mins

10/01/64

01/12/67

PICCOLO SAXO AND COMPANY

Philips

14 mins

14/04/64

26/08/65

POWER TO FLY

Shell

20 mins

07/11/62

22/06/67

THE QUESTIONING CITY

British Travel Association

21 mins

27/10/65

12/04/67

A QUESTION OF SPRINGING

Shell

17 mins

09/11/62

01/03/67

RIVAL WORLD

Shell

24 mins

08/11/62

21/08/67

THE ROYAL RIVER

British Travel Association

17 mins

30/03/67

23/11/67

RURAL AREAS (1 screening)

Shell

23 mins

24/11/65

24/11/65

SCHLIEREN  (2 screenings)

Shell

18 mins

31/05/63

31/05/63

SEPTEMBER SPRING

BP

18 mins

22/08/66

22/03/67

SEVERN WESTWARD

SCF/BBC

25 mins

06/11/62

27/11/63

SONG OF THE CLOUDS

Shell

32 mins

07/11/62

25/03/67

TRAWLER BOY

Shell

27 mins

05/11/62

28/03/67

UNDERWATER SEARCH - 1

Shell

20 mins

22/08/66

12/04/67

UNDERWATER SEARCH - 2

Shell

20 mins