Brighton Story (1955) | BFI National Archive

The Sussex skyline has changed dramatically since the making of this quirky and colourful yarn about a Regency-era 'ghost' (Alec Clunes - son of Martin) who returns to Brighton to explore his old haunts. Though 1970s concrete carbuncles have yet to make an appearance, the sight of daytrippers enjoying the seaside pleasures of ice-cream and candyfloss is as recognisable then as now, as is shopping for vintage treasures in the Lanes.

[vinegartom]

I was born in Brighton (Buckingham Road Maternity hospital, near the train station) in 1968. Went to primary School at Davigdor Road, them Somerhill School. When I was 25 years old I moved the States. I'm now 50 years old and writing this in Los Angeles, California. I now have a wife and three children and every three years or so, we go to the UK and I take my family back to Brighton to show them where I grew-up. I may live in the States, but I will forever be a Brighton boy....

[bbgunn]

As a kid in London in the 70s, the train down to Brighton for the day was a treat my grandma took me on, with tea at Lyons. It was a hive of alternative creativity, loads of real artists. Biba started off there, as did The Body Shop and Neal's Yard. It stole such a place in my heart, that I bought my first home there in the 90s, beautiful Brunswick Square (actually a nightmare because of being Grade I listed, the crooked council forced you to repaint the facade every 10 years, using THEIR contractors at a cost of 100 thousand pounds!!!!) It was so stressful having that hanging over your head every decade that I moved. Like everywhere else it was soon ruined by property sharks, too many cars and rip off parking rules and all the soul evaporated.
Thinking back on London my home town and Brighton my adopted home town and what they've become is a sort of grief.

[senianns]

My dad taking us down to Brighton beach in the late 50's in his old Wolseley car! Somewhere near Blackrock was the preferred spot! Crusty ham rolls, oxtail soup in flasks! We had no money but the days were great! Simple but good family life!

[layde]

What a wonderful, entertaining film. I just love seeing the old British way of life.🌷

[talmadge]

I remember Laurence Olivier leading a protest to get kippers (smoked herring for the uninitiated) restored to the breakfast menu of the Pullman dining car on "The Brighton Belle" after they had been abruptly withdrawn (1960s). He launched an appeal in ringing shakespearian tones. And won! The kippers were restored. But even he could not save the much loved train with its 1930s carriages and it was taken out of service in the 70s

[donnarogers]

What a Sweet film. So glad it was refurbished for us to see today. Time waits for no man. Enjoy while you can.💚🇬🇧

[thekarmafarmer]

It was a really wonderful country back then. It really was a GREAT Britain. I miss these simpler times.

[illuminatedgalaxies.]

Such a wonderful wonderful film it brought tears to my eyes I spent many times here with my family now nearly all gone sometimes memories hurt don't they 😢❤

[janethammond]

What a delightful time capsule of how Britain used to be. Yet makes me want to weep for that reason. Today's generation does not realise what has been lost. 😢

[BantuEducation]

Wonderful nostalgic video of Brighton (and a few scenes of Hove, although not stated). I can almost see my self there on the beach. I was born in 1947 and lived in Hove until 1969.

[lindabullen]

I so enjoyed this, I used to go to St Margaret's primary school, lived at Norfolk Square. I live in Australia now, but Brighton will always be home. ❤❤

[alanogilvie]

We grew up in Hove in the 1960s having moved from Glasgow via Bognor Regis. We moved South for health reasons as we all 4 kids struggled with bronchial issues in Glasgow. Dad contracted Polio in the early 50s too, so the South Coast was where we ended up.
This is a lovely look back at a Brighton that has changed so much with the times..
I moved to California in 1985 and have lived there ever since..I haven't been back to Brighton since 2001 but it's still very much a part of me.
One of my brothers and my sister and my half brother all still live there with their families so I'm joined at the hip with them all
You can take a boy out of Brighton but you can't take Brighton out of the boy
What a fantastic place to grow up in! ❤ Up the Albion!

[annenunney]

I spent many days in Brighton when I was a child with my parents and brother always love Brighton

[cambs]

If he found coming back to Brighton in the 1950s, don't know what he would think of it in the 2020s.

[majorbrighton]

What a marvelous find, 1955 was the year I was born, so 70 now! I have found old films before, yet from much later on and even those are upsetting to watch; as
Brighton is not what it once was. Watching this and in color too, was a big shock for me, not having re visited after leaving.
So they did have double decker´s at that time, well I know London did. It was really that mild you know. The society was only just recovering from that
of one run by the church. Those flared trousers were so popular, I had them while at Art College in Eastbourne, even that has gone now.
Great to see, yet would have been nice to have seen more places.

[lolamarie]

I don’t know what it is about this but I come back to watch it, probably around 5 times now and I love it every time. It’s so poetic, beautiful AND entertaining

[skyebrackpool]

My mum was born in the North Laines in 1955. So lovely to be able to see what Brighton was like in the 50’s . Thanks for posting.

[CassHoskins]

The Brighton my Mum and grandparents moved down from London to in the 50's. Over a decade before I was born, but has element I still remember from my childhood.

[SirArthurStreebGreebling]

Lovely film. Growing up in Dorking in Surrey Brighton was the go to seaside. We could get the coach. Dad and I did a few times. The record stores were amazing.
Now sadly it's become a suburb of London. Absurdly expensive and absurdly hip. But there you go, nothing and nowhere stands still for long.

[carolwilkins]

How wonderful and nostalgic. I remember my sister and I practising our song to sing at the lido childrens' theatre, probably around 1957. Our grandparents had a beautiful house in Brighton, and we used to spend the school holidays there. I am off for a long weekend at the end of May with my daughter, such a wonderful place.