Opus

Opus 1967

5.00

Impressions of contemporary British arts and fashion. Summary of art through the ages taking in every thing from Mary Quant to the Marat/Sade production. Made for the Montreal "Expo '67" exhibition.

1967

Apaches

Apaches 1977

6.30

On an English farm, six reckless children play at being a fierce band of Apache warriors, unaware of the many dangers to which they are exposed. (Public information short film produced on behalf of the British Government to warn children living in rural areas about the risks of playing near farm machinery.)

1977

Queen Elizabeth II in Pakistan

Queen Elizabeth II in Pakistan 1961

1

In the middle of a six-week tour of the Indian sub-continent between January and March 1961, the Queen and Prince Philip visited Pakistan and East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.

1961

Daybreak in Udi

Daybreak in Udi 1949

4.40

An African tribe in the Eastern Nigerian village of Umana work to build a maternity hospital, with the aid of government officials, and against the opposition of some tribal members.

1949

The People at No. 19

The People at No. 19 1949

4.50

Reported cases of sexually transmitted disease took a sharp rise during and after World War II, but as this film testifies, sexual license amongst soldiers on the frontline wasn't the sole cause. Back on the home front, for many women, like Joan from No. 19, loneliness or newfound independence acted as an incentive to extramarital promiscuity.

1949

A Modern Guide to Health

A Modern Guide to Health 1946

1

Modern advice and old-fashioned values combine in this postwar animated health guide from the makers of Animal Farm.

1946

Building Sites Bite

Building Sites Bite 1978

1

This film tells the story of Ronald, an intelligent boy who wants to become an architect or surveyor. His cousins Paul and Jane cannot believe that Ronald has any awareness of building sites. In Paul's imagination, he and his sister set Ronald in a number of typical sites, to see if he can survive the hazards that kill and maim many children each year. Ronald eventually learns the hard way that he did not know as much about building sites as he thought.

1978

Searching

Searching 1974

7.00

A haunting fire prevention film about keeping matches out of the hands of children.

1974

Designing Women

Designing Women 1948

7.00

Part of BFI collection "Design for Today."

1948

The Poet's Eye

The Poet's Eye 1964

1

A tribute to William Shakespeare devised by Geoffrey Buckland-Smith and made in connection with the quatro-centenary celebrations. Spoken extracts from Shakespeare's works (read by Stephen Murray) blend with visuals of scenes in Britain today which illustrate his references to countryside or childhood, and the sea or to the taverns and trades of London. Includes sequence of Olivier as Henry V and is accompanied by period music on the lute by Desmond Dupré.

1964

The Pacemakers: Glenda Jackson

The Pacemakers: Glenda Jackson 1971

1

Central Office of Information profile of actress, Glenda Jackson discussing her roles in Sunday, Bloody Sunday and Women in Love, as well as views on the profession.

1971

Only a Fool Breaks the 2 Second Rule - Hospital

Only a Fool Breaks the 2 Second Rule - Hospital 1975

1

A shadowy man in black warns viewers of the perils of forgetting to follow the simple two second rule - that is, keeping a sufficient distance from the car ahead when driving. Directed by John Krish, who made numerous similarly macabre films, this is one of three public information films produced as a series on public road safety. The images from the series may no longer be familiar to everyone, but the slogan is still in use today.

1975

Britain Welcomes the President of India

Britain Welcomes the President of India 1963

1

An account of the state visit to Britain by the President of India, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, in June 1963. In London he accompanied the Queen on a State drive, visited the Commonwealth Institute, attended a Guildhall luncheon and visited the country.

1963

Britain Welcomes the President of Pakistan

Britain Welcomes the President of Pakistan 1966

1

The President had been due to visit twice before, but on both occasions the trip had to be cancelled. The first time was in 1963, the same year as the Commonwealth visit by the President of India. The second cancellation occurred in 1965 when a longstanding dispute between India and Pakistan over the sovereignty of Kashmir boiled over into full-scale war in September of that year. However, as one might expect from a film made for international diplomacy purposes no reference is made to ongoing political problems either at home or abroad. Like the Indian presidential visit of 1963, the film was for screening to domestic audiences (both in the UK and in Pakistan) whose main interest would be in the pomp and ceremony of the visit, and the reception and status afforded to the President by the Queen and royal family.

1966

Protect and Survive

Protect and Survive 1976

3.00

Protect and Survive was a public information series on civil defence produced by the British government during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was intended to inform British citizens on how to protect themselves during a nuclear attack, and consisted of a mixture of pamphlets, radio broadcasts, and public information films. The series had originally been intended for distribution only in the event of dire national emergency, but provoked such intense public interest that the pamphlets were authorised for general release.

1976

Fair Rent

Fair Rent 1947

7.00

Power cuts, housing shortages and exorbitant rents – Aberdeen man goes head to head with his greedy landlady.

1947

Comprehensive School

Comprehensive School 1962

1

The joys of 1960s modern education - as seen at a not-exactly-typical local comp.

1962