Sid James narrates Look at Life - The Market

Sid James narrates this short film, one of a series made by the Rank Organization and shown in Odeon cinemas before the main feature.

[@1061andy]

These Look At Life 10 minute shorts are precious social records of a world long gone but thankfully at least preserved on film.

[@51WCDodge]

Why thankfully? The good points are just the same, the bad points have just had the words changed. One point when I fell over as a kid and howled, everyone came to see if I was alright. Now if a kid falls over, despite being First Aid trained, as a male, I walk away.

[@ohcrikey9560]

@@51WCDodge nice

[@christinecraig7473]

Poor old London, poor old girl look what they did to you. They pulled the guts out of ya, the spirit and character.

[@londo776]

another racist crawling from under there rock

[@staffie1uk]

@@londo776 "their"

[@andreanicolas9363]

I agree with you completely but haven't you heard of karma! England has colonized the world and destroyed it along the way.

[@christinecraig7473]

@@londo776 And how is that racist? in which part was race mentioned? you are jumping to that conclusion which actually makes you a racist. Not everything is race related! This obsession about such is boring now.

[@christinecraig7473]

@@andreanicolas9363 Many countries are guilty of such in the past. I personally wasn't around then so can't be held responsible.

[@anaiscatton4574]

Love seeing this old footage. Would love to have experienced London in these times.

[@solcutta3661]

The most wonderful sid James. Another public figure that has been with me on my journey thru life since my earliest memories. A British icon and treasure sorely missed.

[@funkyalfonso]

sol cutta A nice Jewish boy from South Africa.

[@solcutta3661]

@@funkyalfonso yes we know but he was in UK much longer than south Africa as a young lad...one who also never boxed, was not a diamond dealer, didn't do any of the things he said and was a lovely dovely woman's hair dresser..lol

[@stuart.8273]

Carry on Shopping: Sid could read a phone book out loud, I'd still think it would be humorous.

[@user-vg5rv5xf4u]

South Africa's finest export ...Sid James arf arf arf.

[@hyena131]

Urban Fox Yes, and a middle class 4 * 2 boot...

[@Roscoe.P.Coldchain]

Thought it was blade runner 🏃‍♂️

[@faustusTVR]

I always thought he was ozzy.

[@uncleambient]

Sid was King, Carry On Films were hilarious, still are: great days

[@scoobyblue555.]

ohhhhhh matron....

[@stargazer6675]

Fascinating film. Sid James, what a voice.

[@mrmeathead2107]

The past is another country, or as John Milton would say "Paradise Lost."

[@honved1]

Paradise lost isn't about nostalgia for a yesteryear. Read it.

[@jeancowan9202]

What a Wonderfull way to put it !

[@Gollyfats]

We use to go down Petticoat lane nearly every Sunday and have breakfast in one of the 'greasy cafes'. Fun days. Notice how everyone, including the kids are casually tidy clean and smart. I like that lady's grey hat and would love to get hold of that child's stroller - even though it has no cup holders!

[@dumontpictures7303]

I've always love the sound of Sid James's voice. It's the kind of voice you want hear bedtime stories from.

[@jacksonirving4594]

Foreign coins. Very handy for the slot machines.. The laugh he does is class.

[@tedibair]

Craig J. Davies I left 20yrs ago not intending to stay away.. Am sad to read a lot of the comments here. All I can say is be thankful of the fact you were there. I would get the last train home and walk from the station in total safety. Bought my mini skirts down the lane during my lunch hour. Young people today will NEVER know what we knew and dont get me started on the music... Was a great time to be alive... Thanks...

[@maxwellfan55]

tedibair Fab yet poignant comment. Sadly true.

[@jasonantigua6825]

tedibair Tell us more about the mini skirts!

[@forthfarean]

London in the late 1950s ,60s and even the 70s was a great city. I always felt safe coming back from New Cross on the last train ,never any trouble. The West end on Saturday night was pure enjoyment. No one ever thought about getting attacked , mugged or stabbed. Mugging was something that happened in America, it could never happen in London. The copper was on his beat ,dressed like a police Constable in the blue uniform and helmet; now they look like a cross between a traffic warden and robo cop with those horrible yellow jackets and ever more gadgets hanging on their belt. Who ,then, could have guessed that everything could change so drastically and go so wrong?

[@justaman5418]

jason antigua hah

[@justaman5418]

George Jarrold yeah pretty fickle now pretty much what it might have been like in nazi Germany east and west bullshite roll on 2020 💩💩💩

[@curbyourshi1056]

Back when citizens were proud of being citizens. Great days.

[@hyena131]

Gawd blimey...I got a tear in one o' me minces!

[@danielgreen3715]

Precious memories of a life gone by An England thats pretty much gone now

[@londo776]

another racist crawling from under there rock

[@TomorrowWeLive]

@@londo776 why don't you crawl back to Jerusalem, """ian"""

[@wlt648]

What a star .....these videos are gems

[@klacha]

I miss the England I never knew

[@TheBlackcular]

How can you miss something you never experienced? That's not logical!

[@chubeye1187]

It was shit

[@fava7753]

@Fred Blair believe me Fred , your doing the right thing by being where you are . This is no longer the Britain you remember . It is no longer OUR country . It is completely over run with foreigners . From every part of the globe . It's like the league of nations . . You made the right move by emigrating . . Enoch was exactly right . Our country now belongs to the immigrants . . We are second class citizens in our own land . .

[@srl6018]

Love that comment.

[@kennyluciano4913]

60's was the best, grew up in Kensington, but left in 1977 for Sicily, best move ever.

[@pachma405]

2:36 "I've got a horse". Ras Prince Monolulu, the famous racing tipster.

[@Larry]

Ah the good ol' SubahMarket.

[@marcse7en]

Sid James! What a legend! Pure class! 😂👍

[@Weeflowerofscotland]

I absolutely love that they are using paper carrier bags...I wish we could go back to markets.

[@peaceLove1988]

Sid James LEGEND.

[@Barry-vn6uq]

Absolutely brilliant. Love these old videos. I do feel a bit sad that this way of life is long gone. Immigration changed things an awful lot. The market is nothing like this anymore.

[@harleyhartley3168]

what are your thoughts on teenage lads being shirtless? I think it should be enforced, especially in sport

[@aprayerandpositivethoughts9308]

Immigration brought joy to England

[@aprayerandpositivethoughts9308]

@Al Bundy for President no sarcasm. I think immigrants have made great contributions

[@TheBlackcular]

@@aprayerandpositivethoughts9308 I think you're right, brought in different cultures thus the wonderful different foods for one.

[@TheBlackcular]

@John Salvage if its rubbish, just carry on eating fish & chips and pie & mash for the rest of your life. If you don't like other cultures or their foods don't eat it. You might also not want to be hypocritical by enjoying their music, Jazz, R&B, Blues, hip hop, Reggae etc.

[@lefroy1]

What a beautiful place with happy people. What country is that? I don't recognise it.

[@hislatestflame7861]

Used to love going to Petticoat Lane with my dad when I was a kid. It's pretty shit now. That's progress for you.

[@EdsRodShop]

I miss the England I just missed

[@TomorrowWeLive]

this

[@londo776]

another racist crawling from under there rock

[@TomorrowWeLive]

@@londo776 lmao You've really only got one comment, eh, mate?

[@hezkyden]

Solomon Joel Cohen, alias 'Sid James', was born on 8 May 1913, to Jewish parents in South Africa, later changing his name to Sidney Joel Cohen, and then Sidney James. Upon moving to the UK later in life, he claimed various previous occupations, including diamond cutter, dance tutor and boxer; in reality, he had trained and worked as a hairdresser. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_James

[@martinfreeman-wooding8229]

Jewish East end at its finest

[@TomorrowWeLive]

typical

[@blackwaterhousecork5182]

Brought back Childhood Memories from before My Parents dragged Me to the other side of the world and tried to make an Australian of Me. Which didn’t work by the way.

[@chrimbo90]

So they turned your world upside down..?

[@blackwaterhousecork5182]

Chris Hart Beginning of September 1967 I was a typical London Schoolboy. Two Months later I arrived in an Australian Bush Town (Peterborough, South Australia) on a “Cowboy Train” and was instantly Hated by all around Me because I came from England.

[@mynameisnotjerome1803]

@@blackwaterhousecork5182 Did you move back to the UK?

[@camt9967]

Hearing you loud and clear Blackwater HC. A sadness that never goes away

[@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888]

Still, we're glad you left.

[@craigdavidson2278]

This was in the city called London, it was the capital city for the the English people, they were once a proud people. Igf you look carefully today, you might see a few of them.....living in isolated communities in villages and highland cottages.

[@lindsay9375]

Interesting just came across it on you tube on tv brilliant looking back at how things used to be & best of all Sid James narrating it brilliant 🤩 I think things looked better back then pleased I stumbled across this thank you for posting it

[@Pymmeh]

Nostalgia does an awful lot for this, feels grim to me. This era would be an interesting place to spend an afternoon but I'd be counting the seconds to my return.

[@bennyswales8245]

Sid James just Brilliant

[@robleary3353]

Love the markets! No plastic packaging! Paper bags and at the end of the day you could haggle! Love these snippets of bygone times and Sid James was the perfect commentator!..

[@williamf4544]

I remember going to The Co-op with my Grannie before it became a supermarket - just big long counters on each side of the store - and the Co-op grocery cart was still pulled by a horse

[@alanroberts4060]

Good ald Sid, miss him and his laugh. RIP Sid

[@janeokeeffe5297]

Me too

[@jerryduhon1075]

THESE ARE AWESOME VIDEOS. . A WINDOW BACK IN TIME. . LOVE THEM

[@Alfredromeothatsme]

Used to work in Berwick Street. The old market had some characters!

[@spiritoveradversity1]

What a lovely little film, I recognize loads of faces from the old days in the "lane" clip, PRINCE MONOLULU with his horse racing tips, "TOSH" the tie king, great days, mind you, the road sweepers dont have to clear piles of rubbish away after the market these days, most of the time Petticoat Lane is half empty now, how times have changed.

[@GONZOLISM]

Syd James the legend 😎

[@Retirement_Life]

Sid James...what a legend!

[@dianadoos6120]

I love you sid

[@TedCornish]

Dear old sid a real treasure

[@paulkersey9857]

Things weren't perfect back then, far from it. Still, I would go back to those times in a heartbeat. We live in a world ruled by Satan and his disciples. His influence is EVERYWHERE.

[@oo0Spyder0oo]

Well your god isn't so good then eh? Beaten by a little old devil.

[@tonydelo7292]

U judas prick

[@londo776]

another racist crawling from under there rock

[@DenisHuaHin]

yes PRINCE MONOLULU, seen him many a time at the races, my local market was Surrey St market Croydon, I think it's still going.

[@armjos1]

the england i knew and loved as a kid,but no more

[@andrewcrouch2362]

Brilliant video upload proper market back in the day not like the rubbish markets of today there is 500 of these videos all together be nice to see them all good video to watch anyway 😀👍

[@tomkent4656]

In those days Notting Hill was a rundown slum area.

[@mrthomas394]

I sometimes pick up something fancy in nylons. Brilliant 🤣🤣🤣 London at its finest never again will we see this even that fantastic accent is dying at a rapid rate... Our beloved England is gone forever 😔😔😔😔

[@pit_stop77]

Ironic that Sid was South African....

[@mozdickson]

enjoy the music they soundtracked these films with.. Market like this still thriving in Mozambique

[@jasonelvery3399]

Reminded me of east st market Walworth . My nans place overlooked the market( happy days).

[@philipswain4122]

Now this is proper commerce.

[@templarknight5557]

I didnt realise how old and over emotional I have become. I wept like a baby watching this. I had my apprenticeship paid for by a market butcher who caught me stealing eggs in Hoxton mkt and decided to give me a trade instead of reform school.

[@judeevans7308]

That butcher was a true gentleman

[@templarknight5557]

He truly was and thank you for saying that. From a trade to freemasonry Jimmy changed my life and showed me anyone can claw their way out of the gutter and poverty if they are true to themselves and others in life. I still miss him 30yrs after he passed away.

[@d13cab]

Put a smile on my face made me feel like a kid again 😀

[@EdVanMeyer]

Great old film.

[@alisonbrowning9620]

love markets, wish there were more

[@john111257]

amazing...love to get all these old look at life shorts...swarming with folks

[@0IDaveCouch]

6:03 Dad used to say lovely grub all the time. I still say it now. 😊✌🏻🇦🇺

[@jrgboy]

Sid was born in South Africa though many though he was from the East-End of London , he lived in Ealing, West London for many years..

[@aalexjohna]

Gunnersbury Avenue

[@enochpowel4580]

what have they gone an done to london as it is now.

[@dbd2191]

Fucked it up.

[@maudemathildeh335]

Ruined it! They just had to go and ruin it😢

[@Realpoweronearth]

London is a shithole completely taken over!!!

[@nationstates7699]

The government sold its people out

[@TheBlaert]

@@Realpoweronearth it always was a shitehole

[@j43ms]

my guess would be around '59-'60. sid james is playing on his "wide boy" persona from the hancock series

[@cosycleaner]

Look at Life theme takes me right back to the days when seeing a film in colour was a treat but even TV in B&W was great (sigh).

[@STEPASAUR]

5.21 opening market scene of Lock Stock?

[@UltraDefender84]

1959 looks awesome! =)

[@chubeye1187]

Grim

[@pauloliver6813]

60 years ago. The vast majority of humans who have their images and voices captured here are dead. We can now see the past in images that appear like reality.

[@MrWindermere123]

There was a brief glimpse of a racing tipster calling out 'I've got a horse!' I think his name was Prince Monolulu and he went around race courses (and markets) selling a newsletter with his advice on horses to bet on. As to the narrator Sid James, he had some funny lines, such as buying a book because his table had a short leg.

[@2Sugarbears]

Fascinating.

[@bigearedmouse17]

"Never seen so many White People" Jon Snow.

[@653j521]

bigearedmouse17 And yet, the narration and photos clearly indicate a mixture of humanity bringing their goods and culture from all over the world. Surely a nation that had an empire knows about that.

[@vetiverose128]

The audacity & hypocrisy of you to say that, when Britain colonized non-white countries for so many years and plundered most of their resources.

[@vetiverose128]

@Craig Ebanez ​ Craig Ebanez These were accounts I've heard from people who lived during the colonization. And your comment was juvenile. You don't need to have 1st hand experience to know this. No one invades another country with good intentions on their mind so if you think that's the case, then you are deluded.

[@vetiverose128]

@smadge100 Because psychological healing takes time? All those years of oppression take a huge toll on the psyche and get passed down to generations. Heck, I'm still reeling in from my own childhood traumas and it's frustrating because as much as I have the potential to live a beautiful, successful life, my past traumas still hold me back! Most adults don't heal themselves and pass their shit down to their children which keeps them in a cycle of abuse & dysfunction for generations and with far-reaching effects - until they all start to heal collectively. These countries have not reached stellar states of perfection, but from what I see, most of them are making progress, albeit at a slow pace. But you're making it seem as though they're all regressing, which isn't the case. As far as technological advancement is concerned, the Japanese are far ahead of everyone. And you forgot to include Singapore, which was a 3rd world country even during the British period but after independence, they rose rapidly.

[@triple6758]

@@vetiverose128 *Conquered.

[@robertjeffries6217]

Good stuff. Would you mind if I borrowed this link for a Facebook page, you will be credited. Thanks

[@Dragonrdh]

I love the market guy's patter!

[@horrorfreaklondon3037]

Makes me cry to see it now in tatters.....

[@bradleywetenhall7944]

so easy to forget !

[@grai]

Immigrants especially highlighted as a novelty! how times change

[@weerobot]

What amazing film.

[@meandus6995]

when life was so much easier

[@RevStickleback]

...unless you were a manual worker, as many were, and you had to work harder than almost all today do, for a pay packet that allowed you little more than the essentials in life.

[@ohcrikey9560]

Easier? You must be joking. Outside toilets. No central heating. Only a few could afford a car. And those cars were unreliable. Whole families living in a 2 up 2 down. It weren't easy.

[@Ropponmatsu2]

Supermarkets, immigration, the idea that the government could grant you a license for life to run a market stall....And then RESPECTED it rather than try and fiddle their way around it... I miss the England where you were allowed to say you didn't like certain things, because you knew that they might lead to problems....And you had the freedom to try to explain why. Ah well. "Its a good job we don't all like the same thing. Otherwise there'd be no progress, would there?"

[@terrytk9398]

Ropponmatsu2 well said!😀

[@beatonthedonis]

Sid James was an immigrant. I'd swap a million like you for one of him.

[@dorvito67]

@Phonic Tales don't apologise, immigrants like you played your part, it was the Tony Blair government taking immigration from 30,000 a year to 300.000 that changed things.

[@garygoldsmith3887]

Fab look at life i remember so well and enjoyed

[@simonf8902]

What a lovely country. Where is it ?

[@cycleSCUBA]

4:16 'you'll find a lot of citizens 'ere from all over the world.' We're citizens and in it together was the message way back then.

[@teddingtonbear3265]

Hya Hya Hya Hyaaaa!

[@nigelcarren]

4:34 BRAVO, the best "Hyahh Hyaaah Hyahh"... I leave, content. Great film thank you 🏆

[@spiccybaby]

We were broke back then, which is what people forget.

[@pachma405]

We're culturally broke now.

[@TheBlackcular]

@@pachma405, I'd say culturally rich, the UK is very diverse!

[@diggerpete9334]

@@TheBlackcular fat lot of good that has done for us. Islam, stabbings, moped raids. Sadiq Khan. No it's not multiculture London is mono culture of the third world.

[@lorenzonotarianni1667]

It's in these things that one can see MORE similarities than differences between different countries. Looks like and sounds like a street market here in Italy.

[@OfflineSetup]

The further you travel the more things become different. In both time and distance

[@jcc-ve8mo]

Well dressed and well mannered people living a more simple life . Wtf have we got now .

[@TheBlaert]

it was still a shitehole in the 60's.

[@justaman5418]

What have we got now lol good one disheveled chaos

[@danabrahams7892]

good old Sid

[@aditierneu9651]

How far have we fallen

[@londo776]

another racist crawling from under there rock

[@letsdiscussitoversometea8479]

"Progress" - how perniciously subjective. Supermarkets became just that one step _further_ away, from self sufficiency, than was ALREADY the case. Even corner shops had a slightly more pronounced sense of independence about them. Today, superstores/hypermarkets/shopping centres/online buying is more mainstream - even though [we] didn't *actually* ask for them to begin with. Even just standard supermarkets, didn't become the "main" cultural form of grocery/non food shopping, until about 1990. Complete and utter absence of individual identity.

[@Jamesalec63]

Old London markets how many years was this made and the voice of Sid James originally from South Africa did you know that he came to England to find work he had many jobs and a boxer and I believe a taxi driver before getting into acting this video shows a London that has vanished but not everything has it below the surface still old London.

[@Pauldjreadman]

I love the slang.

[@lazycalm41]

Looks how London was before Politicians added the 'stan' to the end of the name!

[@PauloConstantino167]

Exactly. Now the people can enjoy their diversity and segregated multiculturalism. We are killing ourselves and pretty fast.

[@babymoondancer]

Aww. I was hoping to see Kensington Market, where Freddie and Roger once sold stuff they dumpster-dove for.

[@kdp8133]

No, they weren't filmed unfortunately lol

[@bigboxbobby2]

Brilliant

[@trebor9711]

Excellent Video, 😁👍

[@brijones]

remember it well as a kid going their with my parents

[@sufianansari4923]

Anybody know the name of the theme tune in the opening credit - thanks in advance

[@willb3698]

"Cloth Caps...for opening a bank account"...lol/

[@shampoo-supernova]

They aven't seen daylight, moonlight or fanny by gaslight

[@harleyd9180]

S. Classic cockney market patter reinvented in Lockstockandtwosmokingbarrells...

[@harleyd9180]

Have to say my dear departed mum would never be throwing her money around like Jews with no arms neither god rest her soul.

[@theprophet20]

That's an enigmatic statement.

[@ManCave1972]

Look how well dressed everyone is. Men and women of every class and creed all dressed up just to go to the market.