Synopsis

Kay Mander's filmed survey of twenty-four square miles around Banbury in rural Oxfordshire was part of a 1943 project to better understand the use made of the countryside in order to facilitate better planning. Filmed in 1946 Twenty-Four Square Miles shows in detail the use made of the land for farming and industry and the social fabric of the towns and villages and how they are managed. With commentary by John Arlott. Directed by Kay Mander. A Basic Films Production.

Included also is a lovely film of the village of Harting on the Sussex Downs, An English Village.

Synopsis

The British War Office made A Welcome to Britain (1943) to welcome American GIs arriving in Britain for the first time and to give them a little background to British customs. Presented by Burgess Meredith with some help from Bob Hope and Beatrice Lillie. The music score is by William Alwyn.

In Letter From Ulster (1943) we see US airmen serving in Northern Ireland, touring the countryside and writing a letter home. Music score by William Alwyn.

Synopsis

A famous series of films showing the development of farming and rural life in four diverse areas of the country: The Midland Shires, The Fens, Cornwall and the Downs. The Pattern of Britain comprised six films in total and the remaining two Scottish titles are available on The Glen Is Ours (see below). Programme comprises:

The Grassy Shires (1944). Director Ralph Keene. Associate Producer Edgar Anstey.

Fenlands (1945). Director Ken Annakin. Associate Producer Edgar Anstey.

Cornish Valley (1944). Director Ralph Keene. Associate Producer Edgar Anstey.

Downlands (1947). Directors Charles de Latour and Humphrey Swingler.

Synopsis

Four war-time films showing the operations on Britain's farms during the four seasons of the year. Starts in Winter on the Farm in 1941, then Spring on the Farm, Summer on the Farm and finishes with the harvest festival in The Crown of the Year.

As featured on BBC Radio 4's On Your Farm.

Filmed in Uploaders, Dorset, Ross-on-Wye, Hereford, Lancashire and Cheshire and East Norfolk.

Directed by Ralph Keene. Produced by Edgar Anstey, music by William Alwyn.

Synopsis

A wonderful collection of war-time documentary shorts depicting the lives of women and children. Evacuees, land girls, factory workers, doughty countrywomen confronting Nazi paratroopers, and of course the Women's Institute are all here. Don't miss this one. Programme includes:
Land Girl (1942); Miss Grant Goes To The Door (1940); Our School (1941); Bampton Shows The Way (1941); Westward Ho (1940); Living With Strangers (1941); The Countrywomen (1942); Worker's Week-end (1943).

Synopsis

Three Scottish films from 1946 about rural issues, many still relevant today.

The Glen Is Ours, with Ealing stalwart Edie Martin, is a timeless parable of politicians at odds with the will of their electorate. Recently de-mobbed Hector Andrews takes to the hustings to stop Cadisburn Glen being sold and converted from a Lovers' Lane into an amusement park.

The two Scottish members of the Pattern of Britain series are also included:

Crofters takes a look at everyday life in the crofting community of Achriesgill in Sutherland. and North East Corner sees a retiring Fraserburgh Skipper comparing his life with that of a modern fisherman and farmer. Click here for a film clip of Crofters.

Directors: George Haslam, Ralph Keene, John Eldridge. Producers: Edgar Anstey, Ralph Keene.

Synopsis

Marius Goring narrates Humphrey Jennings' film of the extraordinary story of Lale Andersen, the singer whose recording of Lili Marlene became a battle song for troops on both sides in World War II. Goebbels detested the song and contrived to have Andersen placed in a concentration camp. In Britain the song was sung by Anne Shelton and Vera Lynn.

Also features Before The Raid another true story of Norwegian fishermen repelling German soldiers who were plundering their catch from their small fishing village. Filmed in Portmahomack. Directed by Jiri Weiss.

Synopsis

As the "Gathering Storm" of the late 1930s went unheeded by the British, suddenly war loomed with all its consequences, as ... "We Forgot About Germany".

Features the following films:
The New Britain (1940) Commentary by Graham Greene, Music by William Alwyn
From The Four Corners (1940) with Leslie Howard
The Dawn Guard (1941) with Bernard Miles
Words For Battle (1941) Directed by Humphrey Jennings, Commentary spoken by Laurence Olivier
War And Order (1940)
West Indies Calling (1944) with Una Marson, Learie Constantine & Archie Lewis
Night Shift (1942)

Synopsis

War-time documentaries about the dangers faced in the Atlantic by merchant seamen on convoys and the contribution made to the war effort by all civilian seamen. Programme comprises:
Sailors Without Uniform (1940) - The lives of British fishermen in war-time. Partly filmed in St Ives, Cornwall and Grimsby.
Fishermen in Exile (1944) - The story of Dutch fishermen escaped from Holland carrying on their trade in Britain.
Atlantic Trawler (1944) - Fishermen are constantly under threat in the Atlantic from U-boats and mines. Music score is by William Alwyn. Click here for a film clip of Atlantic Trawler.
Merchant Seamen (1941) - A merchant ship is sunk by a U-boat and a young seaman trains as a gunner to seek revenge.

Synopsis

Humphrey Jennings' The Cumberland Story (1947) tells about conditions in Britain's mines and the events leading to nationalisation, taking the Cumberland coalfields as an example where improvements in safety and productivity were most in need.

Plus Rhondda and Wye (1948) a comparison of the two famous Welsh Valleys and how one developed as a mining area and the other as pastural farmland.

Synopsis

A collection of rarely-seen films showing the effect of the blitz on London and its people, and the plans for the post-war regeneration of the City. Includes:
London Can Take It (1940) - GPO Film Unit. Directors Harry Watt & Humphrey Jennings. This film about Londoners under seige during the blitz, seen in the very rare American version, was narrated by American journalist Quentin Reynolds. It was instrumental in persuading the USA to support Britain during World War II. A slightly edited version Britain Can Take It, which was made for the home audience, is available on one of our GPO Classics Series DVDs - Britain At War - Under Fire.
The Proud City (1945) - London County Council's plans for re-developing the city. Scored by William Alwyn.
London Airport (1949) - the construction of Heathrow Airport.
Moving Millions (1947) - the post war changes in London Transport.
Journey by a London Bus (1950) - two African students sample the pleasures of travelling on London's buses, "which are always punctual".

Click here for NTSC version

Synopsis

A sailor on leave in Our Country finds wartime Britain in good spirits in this experiment with narrative poetry on screen. With the words of Dylan Thomas and the music of William Alwyn.

The Dim Little Island by Humphrey Jennings, his penultimate film, dispels the myth of the British being a dull insular race as it explores the achievements of Britain and its people. Featuring Osbert Lancaster, cartoonist, Ralph Vaughan Williams, composer, James Fisher, naturalist and John Ormston, industrialist.