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Ministry of Information / Crown Film Unit

Government produced films of the 30's and 40's

Women & Children at War (DVD)

Price: £18.99

A wonderful collection of war-time documentary shorts dipicting 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!

DVD (PAL - All Regions)
E- Exempt from classification

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Fisherman at War (DVD)

Price: £18.99

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.

DVD (PAL - All Regions)
E- Exempt from classification

We Forgot About Germany (DVD)

Price: £18.99

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), From The Four Corners (1940), The Dawn Guard (1941), Words For Battle (1941), War And Order (1940), West Indies Calling (1944), Night Shift (1942)

DVD (PAL - All Regions)
E- Exempt from classification

Our Country (DVD)

Price: £18.99

"Our Country" A wartime film blending visual images and narrative poetry with the words of Dylan Thomas and the music of William Alwyn.

Also features Humphrey Jennings' "The Dim Little Island".

DVD (PAL - All Regions)
E- Exempt from classification

24 Square Miles (DVD)

Price: £18.99

Kay Manders filmed survey of twenty-four square miles of 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.

DVD (PAL - All Regions)
E- Exempt from classification

The Crown of The Year (DVD)

Price: £18.99

Four wartime films showing Britain's farms at work during the four seasons of 1941 and 1942. Winter on the Farm, Spring on the Farm, Summer on the Farm, and The Crown of the Year. DVD (All Regions)

The True Story of Lili Marlene (DVD)

Price: £18.99

Two wartime films
'The True Story of Lili Marlene' (Humphrey Jennings, 1944) tells the story of Lale Andersen's recording of "Lili Marleen" which became the unofficial anthem for foot soldiers on both sides during World War ll.
'Before the Raid' (Jiri Weiss, 1943) is the story of a group of Norwegian fishermen and the Nazi occupation of their small village.

DVD (All Regions)

Over Paid - Over Sexed & Over Here (DVD)

Price: £18.99

"A Welcome to Britain" (1943) a wartime GI's guide to the British way of life starring Burgess Meredith. Featuring Bob Hope and Beatrice Lille. Plus "Letter from Ulster (1943). Two American brothers stationed in Ulster take a tour of the province to write home to their families. Two excellent wartime films.

PAL DVD - All Regions

At The Coal Face (DVD)

Price: £18.99

"The Cumberland Story" (1947) directed by Humphrey Jennings & "Rhondda and Wye (1948) tell the stories of the coal mines, their need for change and the poor conditions and dangerous conditions faced by miners. More superb documentary making from the 1940s.

DVD (PAL - All Regions)
E- Exempt from classification

30s Britain Volume 1 (DVD)

Price: £17.99

Granton Trawler (1934) directed by John Grierson. About a trawler fishing on the Viking Bank.
Coal Face (1935) directed by Alberto Cavalcanti. An experiment in sound in a coal mine.
A Job in a Million (1940) directed by Evelyn Spice. A young cockney lad trains as a messenger boy with the Post Office.
Spare Time (1939) directed by Humphrey Jennings. Workers in the steel, cotton and coal industries at leisure.
The City (1939) directed by Ralph Elton. The growth and development of London. How the Post Office helped ease congestion with its own underground railway.

DVD (PAL - All Regions)
E- Exempt from classification

30s Britain Volume 2 (DVD)

Price: £17.99

The Saving of Bill Blewitt (1937) directed by Harry Watt. How two fishermen save up to replace their wrecked boat.
North Sea (1938) directed by Harry Watt. An Aberdeen trawler in trouble gets assistance from Wick coastguard radio station. The first successful example of the now familiar drama-documentary.
The Islanders (1939) directed by Maurice Harvey. Life on the islands of Eriskay, Guernsey and Inner Farne are linked to the mainland by the Post Office.
A Midsummers Days Work (1939). About the laying of an 18-mile underground telephone cable in the Chilterns from Amersham to Aylesbury.

DVD (PAL - All Regions)
E- Exempt from classification

London in Festival Year 1951 (DVD)

Price: £18.99

A Collection of films made for the 1951 Festival of Britain. Includes Festival in London, a colourful introduction to the exhibition, with William Alwyn's superb Festival March.

Brief City was made by The Observer during the last two weeks of the exhibition before it vanished forever. This film was Richard Massingham's last production.

Family Portrait was the last film written and directed by Humphrey Jennings. Looking back at the history of Britain, the film turns over the pages of history as someone might browse through a family album. Jennings also considers the importance of Europe to the country's future.

Designed in Britain is a bonus film which offers an imaginative impression of British Design. Terence Conran was technical advisor.
DVD (PAL - All Regions)
E- Exempt from classification