Morning in the Streets, made by the BBC's Northern Film Unit, was publicised as an "impression of life and opinion in the back streets of a Northern City in the morning". The city in question is never identified: scenes were shot in Manchester, Salford, Stockport and Liverpool then combined as if capturing a single half-day in a single location. Because the film is impressionistic rather than journalistic, this artistically licensed deceit is easy to accept. While a minority of viewers disliked the film, it was hailed for bringing television documentary to a new level of artistic ambition, worthy of film antecedents. And in fact, after its broadcast Morning in the Streets became part of the non-theatrical documentary repertory, available for years for 16mm bookings.

But the imperfections almost work in favour of the film, which is beautiful rather than pretty.

• Watch: Morning on the Streets
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