Synopsis

John Grierson, who coined the term documentary, made his first film, Drifters in 1929 as a tribute to the North Sea herring fleets. The film was shot around the then great fishing ports of Lowestoft and Yarmouth, with some scenes being filmed in Shetland. The programme also includes Caller Herrin' made by Edinburgh film makers Campbell Harper in 1947. The film, much of it shot in Fraserburgh and Shetland, takes a look at changes in the fishing industry after the war.

Synopsis

Seawards The Great Ships (1960). Made for Films of Scotland and the Clyde Shipbuilders Association. Produced by Templar Films. Directed by Hilary Harris from a treatment by John Grierson. An evocative testimony to the achievements on the Clyde and to the men of the 'black squads'. Winner of many awards including a Hollywood Oscar for best live action short film 1961. Running time: 30 mins colour.

With viewing notes by Janet McBain, Curator, Scottish Screen Archive.

This film has been preserved with a grant from the foundation for Sport and the Arts and has been duplicated in collaboration with Technicolor Laboratories.

Glasgow's Docklands (1956). Made for Educational Films of Scotland. Produced by Enrico Cocozza. Sound Douglas Gray. Script by W.G. Beaton. Commentary spoken by Leonard Maguire. The Govan Ferry, tugs and puffers, merge with ocean going cargo ships in this atmospheric view of life around the docks. As horses and carts still clatter up and down the Broomielaw, it is hard to imagine the huge changes that Glasgow will see within just a few years. Running time: 11 mins b/w.

The River Clyde - A Survey of Scotland's Greatest River (1939). Made for Clyde Navigation Trust. Produced by Scottish Film Productions. Directed by Stanley L. Russell. The River from source to sea. Working life on the river, and along its banks, in the graving docks, at Meadowside Granary, and in the commercial docks. Dredgers keep the channel clear for pleasure steamers and ocean liners. Running time: 20 mins b/w.

Synopsis

A collection of films, some in colour from the 1930s and 1940s showing different modes of fishing from a lost era. Originally silent films, these have been enhanced with music scores and commentaries by veteran fishermen themselves. Also features alternative soundtrack with music and sound effects only.

Programme comprises: Fishing Fleet - seine netting at Lossiemouth; Deep Sea Days - Fleetwood Trawlers by St Kilda; Voyage to Stornoway - the Musselburgh herring drifter fleet; Toilers of the Deep - a nine day trawler trip; Ring Net Herring Fishing - off the Western Isles; North Sea Herring Fleet - drifters and Scottish fisher lassies at Yarmouth.

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.