The Wedding of Mr Laurence Marks to Miss Lily Balon

From the collection of

North West Film Archive at Manchester Metropolitan University

Established in 1977, the North West Film Archive preserves moving images made in or about the North West of England for the education and enjoyment of the region’s people. Part of Manchester Metropolitan University Library’s Cultural Collections, and based within Manchester Central Library’s Archives+ partnership, we are a specialist resource dedicated to saving and growing our region’s rich filmed history.

The Wedding of Mr Laurence Marks to Miss Lily Balon

North West Film Archive at Manchester Metropolitan University
Fallowfield
1925-01-01
Silent
1m

Rain and confetti, and big smiles all round, as the weather fails to dampen spirits at a Manchester wedding.

A fashionably dressed bride and her equally stylish bridesmaids brighten up the gloom of a wet autumn day in this delightful short film, shot at the South Manchester Synagogue. Never mind the weather, this is a very happy occasion for the newly wed Laurence and Lily, smiling through the shower of confetti, and for their families and friends, enjoying the attention of the camera.

Jewish Britain

Jewish life on screen: a century of insights and hidden histories

This collection uncovers insights, injustices and hidden histories across a century of Jewish life on British screens. It brings together documentary and first-person accounts of Jewish life in the UK, alongside historical dramas and artists’ work exploring the 20th century Jewish experience. The earliest surviving depictions of Jewish characters in British cinema offer a troubling insight into antisemitic representation, yet prejudice was later tackled head-on, with newsreels documenting the anti-fascist movement of the 1930s.

Drop in on joyous family weddings and community gatherings, and see the ways in which UK Jewry supported Jews young and old, and those fleeing persecution, in a selection of fascinating films from the 1900s to the 1980s.

This collection is generously supported by the Neil Kreitman Foundation, Shoresh Charitable Trust, John S Cohen Foundation, and Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation.