Summary: A record of the violent student demonstration in London on 17 March 1969 against US involvement in Vietnam.
Description: The film is presented as an objective record of the events of the day to allow the viewer to decide who was responsible for the violence which flared up in front of the US embassy in Grosvenor Square. In a coach heading towards London a radical student leader expounds his views of the purpose of the demonstration and his expectation of some violence. Meanwhile, the police make ready for a larger demonstration than usual. At 2pm in Trafalgar Square several thousand demonstrators are assembled listening to speakers including Tariq Ali (?) and Vanessa Redgrave; this scene is contrasted with a delegation from the Conservative Monday Club who are staging a modest counter demonstration in front of the US embassy. At 3.45pm the march starts off from Trafalgar Square to chants of "Long live Ho Chi Minh". In Grosvenor Square the marchers reach the first police cordon intended to guide them well away from the embassy; a camera team in the thick of the crowd records the marchers breaking through into the heart of the square. There follows much scuffling, smoke bomb throwing and arresting as the demonstrators repeatedly try to break through the police to reach the Embassy itself. The police line holds for the hour that the violence lasts. An American radio correspondent is shown filing his report to the effect that the students are misguided.
Alternative Title:WORLD IN ACTION [Series Title]
Colour:B&W
Digitised:
Object_Number:MGH 355
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:
Production Date:1969-03
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Granada Television (Production company)
Dodds, Michael (Production individual)
Knowland, Nick (Production individual)
Roundell, Norman (Production individual)
Wilson, Ian1963BBC correspondent during Second World War (Production individual)
Wood, David (Production individual)
Bale, Alan (Production individual)
Inns, David (Production individual)
Lax, Michael (Production individual)
McCann, Eoin (Production individual)
Walker, Peter (Production individual)
Naden, David (Production individual)
Vaughan, Dai (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:Ho Chi Minh (person)
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 970 ft; Running time: 26 mins
