Swinging the Lambeth Walk (1940)
Len Lye’s camera-less film animates “swing” versions of the popular Lambeth Walk—featuring Django Reinhardt on guitar and Stéphane Grappelli on violin—through scratched and painted imagery directly on celluloid. Sponsored by the Tourist and Industrial Development Association after Lye and his family fell into hardship, the film blends vibrant visual rhythms with music, free of advertising slogans, and stands out as one of Lye’s most playful experiments in direct cinema.
Director: Len Lye
Genre: Music, Animation
Runtime: 4 min
Release Date: February 1, 1940
Country: United Kingdom
Language: No Language
Original Language: en
Keywords
short film, paint on film
More Films by Director: Len Lye
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Swinging the Lambeth Walk about?
- Len Lye’s camera-less film animates “swing” versions of the popular Lambeth Walk—featuring Django Reinhardt on guitar and Stéphane Grappelli on violin—through scratched and painted imagery directly on celluloid. Sponsored by the Tourist and Industrial Development Association after Lye and his family fell into hardship, the film blends vibrant visual rhythms with music, free of advertising slogans, and stands out as one of Lye’s most playful experiments in direct cinema.
- Who directed Swinging the Lambeth Walk?
- Swinging the Lambeth Walk was directed by Len Lye.
- How long is Swinging the Lambeth Walk?
- Swinging the Lambeth Walk has a runtime of 4m (4 minutes).
- What genre is Swinging the Lambeth Walk?
- Swinging the Lambeth Walk is a Music, Animation film.
- Where was Swinging the Lambeth Walk produced?
- Swinging the Lambeth Walk was produced in United Kingdom.