(1967) The Price of a Record (Donald Campbell Documentary)

Probably the oldest thing in my archive. This documentary aired in 1968, a year after Donald Campbell’s water speed record attempt that claimed his life.
The documentary discusses Campbell’s precious achievement & the build-up to what would be his final moments.
I found this on a bootleg DVD that my mother purchased off eBay years ago. It also contained a copy of the 1988 drama “Across the Lake” which stars Anthony Hopkins as Donald Campbell.
Update: My university has a higher quality copy of the film likely on 16mm film, I, unfortunately, do not know how to digitally archive film however I've been discussing with a tutor the possibility of it.

[@calwyndecoster6964]

This is excellent! He was a truely brilliant patriotically british gentleman from a now and sad to say, bygone era. Rest in peace Donald. Thank you so much for this upload.

[@chrish5794]

What a great man and great Patriot, makes you very proud to be British

[@mr.blackhawk142]

Got steak and pancreASS pies???

[@saltychips7627]

@@mr.blackhawk142 what

[@johnhrichak3451]

"it's a sad day day when we lose the enthusiasm of a schoolboy"

[@davidramsay-kerr1959]

Donald Campbell was a hero of mine in my teens and twenties - and he is still, now I'm eighty. I read voraciously ( principally in 'The Wonder Book of Speed" and 'The Modern World Book of Motors') in boyhood fascination with the adventures of Cobb, Eyston, Malcolm Campbell, etc. In my boyhood. When Donald Campbell brought Bluebird (car) to Lake Eyre, South Australia, I wangled the (unpaid) job pf gopher there. Amazed and dismayed that he was never knighted!

[@simoneastwood3779]

This was fascinating on so many levels. Not least his wife's incredibly open, honest and insightful interview answers. With today's bland TV you don't get raw honesty like that.

[@billpercy6354]

Thank you so very much for posting. I remember coming home from school to watch the crash on T.V. news, and thinking in my childish way “I reckon he’ll turn up ok”. Donald Campbell was a real hero figure and I couldn’t believe he was gone. Incredible to think that Bluebird was raised from Coniston Water and rebuilt and run once again recently!

[@anorganlover6281]

This shows you how good the actors were in the BBC version ACROSS THE LAKE !

[@simonbarrett7686]

Indeed, Anthony Hopkins got Campbell spot on.

[@TallysVids]

​@@simonbarrett7686 Totally agree.

[@TallysVids]

Totally agree. Even down to the accent, and the hairline/style.

[@wadeturner3791]

Even down to the quotes used in the movie are in this interview.

[@jonjon9047]

Wonderful film.

[@atraxrobustus3618]

Cambell had a pride and love for his country that has sadly vanished from the British in the 21st century. Patriots like him are now discouraged and frowned upon.

[@chrish5794]

How right you are

[@mr.blackhawk142]

Yup, and he probably could SPELL simple English surnames as well!

[@atraxrobustus3618]

@@mr.blackhawk142 Campbell is Scottish

[@daweshorizon]

The current holder of the Water Speed Record is Ken Warby of Australia. Ken, still alive and kicking, what a hero at over 300mph on water! Ken's childhood hero was Donald Campbell. This weird documentary has some great footage, but as I've said before, the angle of the show is mega-depressing. Donald Campbell was a hero. Ask why? As this tedious TV journalist frequently does; the answer is 'because you can, or might', but if you don't try, you will never know! It's about human endeavour and human ingenuity, which is actually what makes us human. For good or bad. Ken Warby has held the Water Speed Record since 1978! A true genius and hero, but hey, is it not time for someone to push the barriers? Love and peace. As always.

[@skipprice4376]

If he backed off and waited for better weather he might have made it. Pushing a bad situation isn't usually a wise choice.

[@daweshorizon]

@@nettils5555 I'll take weirdo over normal any day. Love and peace.

[@oddyseus99]

This is brilliant. Thank you very much for uploading. I hadn't seen this before and there are some great interviews with the great man in here.

[@Charles010]

I've watched many films about the great Donald Campbell over the years, however, this has to be the very best and most informative. Captivating throughout. Thank you for posting.

[@mikecartlidge5355]

As a then school boy I followed Donald's speed attempts with great interest and I was deeply saddened at the time of the accident on Coniston. What is wonderful is that people have not forgotten Donald and his bravery, a man who has been properly laid to rest a true hero and Bluebird K7 has had a wonderful restoration job done so now future generations can appreciate both it and the British hero who did so many runs on Coniston Water purely to put his record out of reach of the competition.

[@mickd6942]

RIP sir Donald neither you or your heroic achievements will ever be forgotten .

[@puma55792]

These people are a special breed nerves of steel, they risked their lives chasing a dream which sometimes turned into a nightmare.

[@paulevans3827]

It’s a great video thank you very much for uploading I live in the south of England but I took a drive up to Lake Coniston and believe me it is well worth the effort just to read in his footsteps the hotel is still there the there are photographs everywhere you can see where the slipway is or was it’s a feeling that I’ve never forgotten and never will A true hero🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@malcolmmitchell6529]

I think this was originally shown on tv in the sixties , filmed at Coniston. He had no luck,such a brave man.

[@ccrider3435]

What a great woman he had!! The interviewer did such a great job. RIP Donald!

[@maxharris4208]

Thanks so much for uploading this amazing documentary. I can't believe how much cyninsm there was already (by the time this film was made) regarding speed record attempts and how much drive and determination Campbell had in countering this and believing in the nobility of his cause. What an incredible man - what an extraordinary life. Such a shame his single mindedness ultimately cut it so short 😢

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

I don't see the point of breaking your own record when it's so dangerous. Break it again when some other insane bloke breaks your record.

[@peejayarr2323]

Totally agree... it felt like the establishment itself was against him.

[@edwardodonnell6857]

Britain is a nation of Engineers and mechanical engineers I have the utmost respect for these skilled men who learn their craft from scratch.Very sad a lot of our national big names have been sold off that’s life we where world leaders.I love Coniston waters I called it lake Coniston until a local said no it’s Coniston waters he was nice about it they are a nice community there who welcome tourists such a beautiful place wish I could win the lotto I would live there.

[@MarkSlater71]

Just this weekend came back from the Lakes and saw Bluebird at the Ruskin museum and laid some Bluebells on Donald's grave. A true Brit RIP 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@grahamkitchen6650]

Donald campbell was one of the bravest men who ever lived. A true hero of speed, on that day in January 1967 it was all or nothing and Donald only knew this too well. Frustration & plagued by months of Poor weather, money worries & the doubters thinking that he was living in the past and he had lost his nerve. We can only imagine what may have happened if he had waited until the wash from his first run had settled & Stopped for Refuelling adding more weight to the already unstable k7 before starting that fateful run. He may have had that magical goal of 300 plus in pocket? . His first run was 297 only 3 short So he had a good chance of doing it. Playing by the rules he had to do two runs so an average speed could be calculated. it wasn't meant to be, he rolled the dice But the gamble didn't pay off on that day. R. I. P Donald Campbell

[@simonbarrett7686]

For the past fourteen years myself and my friends Captain Sparkle and Mr Led go to Coniston for records week and every time we raise a glass to the Skipper.

[@CaptainSparkle]

Indeed we do, going to miss it terribly this year.

[@daweshorizon]

The commentator seems to have it in for Donald, insinuating that he was inferior to his father and that his career as a land/water speed record breaker was somehow a bit uncool because the Beatles came along! What a fool! Donald Campbell was brave and resourceful; he was also right that pushing technological boundaries is what makes a country great. Most Formula 1 cars are based and built in Britain. Richard Noble and Andy Green still hold the Land Speed Record, and the first to go supersonic. That's British ingenuity and expertise. Love and peace.

[@mr.blackhawk142]

Steak and pancreASS pies do NOT equate to 'love and peace'.

[@daweshorizon]

@@mr.blackhawk142 Please explain.

[@edwardodonnell6857]

A man of vision and real guts.From a documentary I watched it would suggest he had financial pressures we all have those for certain he has earned his place in history with Bluebird.We mostly pass through history millions of us un noticed not Donald he was a real hero a daredevil he took it to the max.

[@spacemanski]

John Pett later became a Professor at the University of Winchester and I knew him quite well. Students loved him. His later career had included extensive work on the World at War documentary series for which he directed three episodes. He died in 2021 aged 94. He didn't retire until the age of 85. His obituary is here. RIP John. PS This documentary dates from 1967 not 1968.

[@user-hn2bo2pn7t]

R.I.P Donald

[@philliphopkins6903]

Absolutely brilliant 👍

[@sixtyshippee]

When people say today what is Britain what culture does it have i think of our History and guys like Donald men who believed in our country this is what is sadly lacking today he loved the glory imsure but his passion for record breaking for Britain was his driving force.

[@andyb.1026]

In an era when Britain produced men of steel, Canpbell, Chichester, Knox Johnson, Chay Blyth, Hailwood, Duke, Read, Ivy, Ovett,, Coe etc etc.. Nowadays ,, nothing ~ a Country Lost its way & its Balls

[@truebluebears76]

And Jim Clark

[@corribnews2219]

I think he became so obsessed that he really didn't know why he was doing it; it drove him a little nuts. Then there was the legacy of his father. Ranulph Fiennes is a similar figure--why does he bother with all those expeditions at his age? What's the bloody point? There is nothing new to be discovered. And of course he was an only child who never knew his father--that has to be a factor. But dear God how dull life would be without such extraordinary figures. I found this documentary oddly moving.

[@invisibleray6987]

brilliant insight into a true British hero

[@seamusblack5876]

3:45 I was in two minds about buying a motorcycle today after watching this I just went ahead and bought it

[@leegribbin2125]

Legend

[@paulwild4330]

Watching on telly as a kid I thought he’d be ok. But felt a pain at the same time. Safety was not the focus

[@mistofoles]

My uncle was in the Merchant Navy, he was on the team that searched for Campbell's body.

[@jeroendesterke9739]

I've seen this and many similar clips many hundreds of times before and I must cringe every time when I see questions like that being thrown at him. One well know motoring journalist described DMC's answers as petulant - with which I very much disagreed.

[@broderickwallis25]

The price of a record in 1968 was 10 shillings for a single and 2 pound 4 and 6 for an album !!!!! Boom boom

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

"He's very much a man's man." That's my kind of woman.

[@user-hn2bo2pn7t]

Fred is more beautiful in real life than the actress that portrayed her in the film . Its usually the other way around.

[@invisibleray6987]

I thought it was sad that he was a man left behind by a changing social landscape, very profound

[@andyb.1026]

do you mean by wimps with no Balls

[@daweshorizon]

Christ, the interviewer is determined to suck the life out of this story! What a despond! He's got his own angle and just asks such loaded questions! A good example of crap journalism. However, love and peace. as always.

[@24thelder72]

Reporters they have no idea of engineering limits in any level of ideological dimension. PlymouthUK

[@eshaibraheem4218]

I remember it well. It is still hard to watch. It was awful.

[@mjstow]

The same documentary made today would be full of nauseating dramatic music and an equally nauseating dramatic voice over. Not to mention "coming up....." before the adverts.

[@seamusblack5876]

29:05 I wish I had him as a father

[@mickd6942]

If balance was so important why didn’t he refuel before starting his second run , surely that would have effected the balance of bluebird k7 .

[@kimboofdzners9574]

3:41 ☢️

[@LPCLASSICAL]

In todays money this would all cost millions. How did he finance it?

[@surality]

Adrvig, rElly, blimey wirg y lo u,

[@rachelcrompton1867]

A true working class Gent.

[@eshaibraheem4218]

?

[@rachelcrompton1867]

@@eshaibraheem4218 Sarcasm sweet pea

[@daweshorizon]

Just got the credits, John Pett, not very good journalist. Hope you are still alive, but hey, what was all that about? Love and peace.

[@ralphsimpson5230]

Coniston should be renamed, "Campbell's Soup."