Bill Douglas Centre - History of Cinema

I'm not an academic but I am a huge fan of film and cinema history, so one of the things I always look for when I'm travelling are movie-related exhibits. Though we were staying 1hr+ away from Exeter University, this bijou museum is so great and well-curated it totally made the trip worth it. If you're a new or dedicated film history lover they will have something you’ll want to see. The displays (temporary and permanent) are a fantastic mix of ephemera like posters, media kit mailers, shooting schedules, and great behind the scenes artifacts from throughout film history. [BTW: The current temporary exhibit is a great collection of Marilyn Monroe items that look at her life and her impact over the past 100 years.] The collection may be eclectic but doesn't feel cobbled together or disconnected. It’s all put together in a way that explains history and technologies in a way that, even if you don't have prior knowledge, is fun and accessible. The pre-film elements of the displays--shadow puppets, optical illusions, magic lanterns and more-- gave us a deeper appreciation of how hundreds of years of visual entertainment from people and cultures around the world came together to bring us moving pictures and modern cinemas. There's a smaller collection of film cameras and projectors, but what they have is so cool--including (if I'm remembering correctly) a film camera that was the first to record and bring back images from WW2. We were lucky enough to meet an assistant curator--who showed us her favourite items in the exhibit--and one of the brilliant staff researchers and assistants. Though–and I cannot stress this enough–we're not academics, Natasha took the time to research questions and email me with what she'd found. That kind of dedication to sharing specialist knowledge in an open way is so precious and should never be taken for granted. I can't wait till my next trip down south so I can check out the upcoming temporary exhibits. I’d also 100% make the trip to participate in any open special events! Exeter University is so lucky to have such a great space available to the community, the city, and visitors. The Bill Douglas Museum may seem too small to be worth the trip, but it’s a must-see. Clearly built with love and care and tended to by a staff with knowledge they make time to share, I honestly think this is a great way to learn about the movies for almost any age.

· via Google

A small but impressive museum of film memorabilia on one floor then the history of moving images and film on another. The curator and staff were happy to answer our questions and share their knowledge. It's currently hosting a 100 years of Marilyn Monroe exhibition too. And it's free to enter. It's on the university campus but there was plenty of parking on the road opposite.

· via Google

We went here on Mark Kermode's recommendation (My wife is a film buff & watches his reviews). It's a bit of a walk from Exeter City Centre (25 minutes) and down then up through a nature reserve and a former barracks (get the bus or park closer). When we got there it was a bit hard to locate as it's actually within Exeter Universities old library and there wasn't a soul around! We thought we might have to buy a ticket but it was in fact free, not that there was anyone there, it was nice to have the place to ourselves. The exhibition is quite comprehensive history of the moving image with lots of old Zoetropes and early projectors and an old fairground style wind up card flipper machine which unfortunately didn't work. The cabinet exhibitions are great with a really interesting one with some Charlie Chaplin photos & memorabilia. Bill Douglas himself seemed like a dedicated craftsman to what was obviously a life passion for cinema. If you love the history of cinema and you're in the area I recommend a visit, it's small, yet interesting.

· via Google

A great way to spend a few hours if you're interested in film history or the art of cinema. The museum is close to the number 4 bus stop on Queens Drive and within a short walk of pleasant campus surroundings to explore before or after you visit.

· via Google