JF Ptak Science Books Post 1412
Interesting films produced by the Office of Information, mostly 1940 and 1941, and found at the (U.K) National Archives.
London Can Take It! (Battle of Britain, 1941)
"This film, in which the American journalist, Quentin Reynolds pays tribute to London and its people under fire, conveys the spirit and atmosphere of the 1940 blitz on the capital. Its impact at the time, especially in U.S.A., makes it historically one of the most important of the war films."
"The production file in the National Archives - TNA: INF6/328 states that the film was to be ‘distributed throughout U.S.A, Canada and Latin-America by Warner Bros' and was to be shown in ‘at least 15,000 American cinemas'." Relseased 1941.
"Cleverly edited montage footage taken from German propaganda films, including Leni Riefenstahl's Triumph Des Willens, which shows Hitler and his marching Soldiers of the Reich, synchronised to the tune of 'The Lambeth Walk'." Relseased 1941.
"An appeal to everyone during wartime to ‘Dig for victory' by cultivating vegetables for the good of the country and their own better health.
"The production file held at the National Archives – TNA: INF 6 / 507 states that ‘a re-edited version was made by Spectator for inclusion in the fortnightly reels for Russia' and that material was used from other Ministry of Information Films including ‘How to dig', ‘Sowing and planting' and ‘Cultivation'."
"Words for Battle evocatively sets to film passages of quotation from poetry and prose including works by: Milton, Blake, Browning and Kipling. The famous “we shall never surrender'' speech by Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address are also quoted in the Film. It powerfully associates these passages and music by Handel and Beethoven with images of everyday life in Britain at war.
The Crown Film Unit file held in the National Archives: TNA: INF 6/338 synopsis reads: ….“A call to arms through images and words of Britain's countryside, people and poets”.
Released 1941, and read by Lawrence Olivier.
Workers' Weekend (A Tribute to the Workers of the British Aircraft Industry)
‘A tribute to the workers of the British Aircraft Industry'. Men and women in a factory in the North-West of England set themselves the task of building a Wellington bomber in the record time of 30 hours. Constructing in their own time, the workers donate the bonus they got to the Red Cross ‘Aid to Russia Fund'.
The cameras capture the whole process of the construction in record time through to the test pilot taking off in the plane, ahead of schedule."
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