The Baim Collection
Harold Baim was a director, writer and prolific producer of 35mm short features for UK cinema release. Sometimes called ‘quota-quickies’, these films included colourful widescreen travelogues filmed in Great Britain, Ireland, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The Middle East archive of the Baim Collection features vintage travelogues from across the region, introducing an international audience to the historic and contemporary cultures of the Middle East. The master films are available and can be scanned at up to 4k quality.
Search through the collection, or browse through some of the films below.
Films
Israel is explored in depth in this film in the form of a trilogy, travelling the length and breadth of this remarkable country from the Negev Desert to the bustling cities of Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv described by Ray Orchard, Dame Flora Robson and David Jacobs. Apart from the remarkable scenery and magnificent sights of the cities, the film also tells the story of Jesus and the archaeological ruins that are his legacy.
At the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a land steeped in a heritage dating back to the Old Testament. It has always been at the centre of Arabic affairs and its proximity to Israel and its lack of resources has led this ancient country to woo the West in a way no other Arab country has done. The film shows this diversity and captures the essence of its remarkable history.
This film introduces Lebanon, capturing a modern and diverse country with a rich heritage. The country is seen as a thriving, rich trading post, a jewel of the East. The film footage of Beirut is quite haunting as the beauty, elegance and cosmopolitan atmosphere is vividly depicted.
Three Hundred Sunny Days (1968)
A cinematic journey through the land of Lebanon, where the ancient and the modern coexist in harmony. The film paints a portrait of a country blessed with 300 days of sunshine, showcasing its ploughed fields and olive groves set against a backdrop of biblical mountains. It celebrates the country’s heritage, symbolised by the cedar trees that once built pharaohs’ ships and Solomon’s temple. It reveals a land of contrasts, from serene ski paradises to bustling Beirut, where the world converges, making Lebanon a crossroads of cultures and a gateway to the east.
University: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1973)
Two of Britain’s most noted stars of the forties and fifties, Michael Denison and Dulcie Gray tour the University of Jerusalem. This modern seat of learning in a city with an ancient heritage and a fractious present makes a fascinating film filled with many different contrasts.