For many years, London has been without a film museum. However, last week saw the opening of the Movieum at County Hall.

The Movieum is the invention of Jonathan Sands who ran a prop-hire company for many years prior. Sands has accumulated quite a collection of movie memorabilia which provides around 50% of the Movieum exhibits; the rest has been donated. He did not seek outside funding.

At the press view, County Hall almost resembled something of a junkyard, but by opening time it was a great deal more organised, possessing a slightly weird, random quality. In the central atrium stands a Dalek with the golden spacesuit from Sunshine, Judge Dredd’s motorbike and the oversized pillar box from The Borrowers. Nearby, a Mini from The Italian Job, loaded with bullion, is positioned beside a Chaplin impersonator, a Star Wars installation and the original Rank gong. Michael Keaton’s Batman outfit faces off against Joaquin Phoenix’s faux leather breastplate from Gladiator and Christopher Reeve’s Superman suit is also featured which is (unsurprisingly) Sands prized possession.

There are also many visual displays and interactive elements, but for many visitors the focus will be the holy relics and fetish objects Sands personal passion which makes it that slightly more interesting and appealing. The collection celebrates the British film industry from the 1950s. It is expected to remain open for quite some time as Sands has the premises on a 25-year lease.

The popular Museum of the Moving Image on a nearby site closed in 1999 to a tremendous public outcry. Anthony Smith, who helped set up Momi while Director of the British Film Institute, is still angry about its demise.

The Movieum is located at County Hall, London SE1 (020 7202 7040).

Filed under: Movies & Cinema