The Way to the Sea
Encyclopedia
The Way to the Sea is a 1936
documentary film
about the London
to Portsmouth
railway line (what is now known as the Portsmouth Direct Line
) and its recent electrification
. This is prefaced with an historical representation of Portsmouth and the London to Portsmouth road (known in the Roman era as Ermin Street
and Stane Street
). It was produced by the Strand Film Company.
Its music was written by Benjamin Britten
and its commentary by W. H. Auden
, who also wrote the music and words respectively for the similarly themed Night Mail
that year. The music from both films was broadcast at 3pm on Saturday 1 September 2007 at the Cadogan Hall
as a Proms Matinee concert. http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2007/whatson/0109.shtml
1936 in film
The year 1936 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 29 - Fritz Lang's first Hollywood film Fury, starring Spencer Tracy and Bruce Cabot, is released.*November 6 - first Porky Pig animated cartoon...
documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
railway line (what is now known as the Portsmouth Direct Line
Portsmouth Direct Line
The Portsmouth Direct Line is the route of a railway service operated by South West Trains which runs between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour, England...
) and its recent electrification
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
. This is prefaced with an historical representation of Portsmouth and the London to Portsmouth road (known in the Roman era as Ermin Street
Ermin Street
Ermin Street or Ermin Way is one of the great Roman roads of Britain. It runs from Gloucester via Cirencester to Silchester . Much of it is now covered by the modern A417, A419 and B4000 roads....
and Stane Street
Stane Street
There are several Roman Stane Streets - see also Stane Street Stane Street is the modern name given to an important long Roman road in England that linked London to the Roman town of Noviomagus Reginorum, or Regnentium, later renamed Chichester by the Saxons...
). It was produced by the Strand Film Company.
Its music was written by Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
and its commentary by W. H. Auden
W. H. Auden
Wystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
, who also wrote the music and words respectively for the similarly themed Night Mail
Night Mail
Night Mail is a 1936 documentary film about a London, Midland and Scottish Railway mail train from London to Scotland, produced by the GPO Film Unit. A poem by English poet W. H. Auden was written for it, used in the closing few minutes, as was music by Benjamin Britten...
that year. The music from both films was broadcast at 3pm on Saturday 1 September 2007 at the Cadogan Hall
Cadogan Hall
Cadogan Hall is a 900-seat capacity concert hall on Sloane Terrace in Chelsea / Belgravia in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, United Kingdom...
as a Proms Matinee concert. http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2007/whatson/0109.shtml