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

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

Comprehensive School

Comprehensive School 1962

1

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

1962

Alice in Label Land

Alice in Label Land 1974

1

Lewis Carroll's 'Alice' stories are used to explain certain sections of the Labelling of Food Regulations 1970.

1974

Searching

Searching 1974

7.00

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

1974

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

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

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

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

Designing Women

Designing Women 1948

7.00

Part of BFI collection "Design for Today."

1948

Royal Children

Royal Children 1961

1

Even the most devout monarchist may feel uncomfortable watching this film - hindsight makes this a rather poignant experience. Although clearly intended as a hymn to royal life, with a panting narration describing the bliss Charles, Anne and Andrew are experiencing (the film was made three years before the birth of Edward), the images tell a different story - only a couple of shots feature the children smiling, while the first glimpse of Andrew as a baby, a spotlight shining on his face as photographers snap away, is a faintly sinister symbol of the royals’ lack of privacy from birth. The knowledge that a future of divorce and tabloid scandal would tarnish these children's adult lives adds irony to this snapshot of supposed utopia.

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

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

Robinson Charley

Robinson Charley 1948

1

No man is an island, but Charley represents his nation in this economical cartoon tale of Britain’s economics.

1948

The Royal Tour of the Caribbean

The Royal Tour of the Caribbean 1966

1

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh undertook an official visit to the region in February 1966, as documented in this film. The destinations on this month long excursion included: British Guiana; Trinidad and Tobago; Grenada; St. Vincent; Barbados; St. Lucia; Dominica; Montserrat; Antigua; St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla; Tortola (Virgin Islands); the Bahamas; Jamaica. This rich and detailed Technicolor travelogue was the only film authorised by the Palace. Strict instructions were given prior to the production being given the green light, most notably that the royals could only be filmed when ‘engaged in a public function’. Unlike the more relaxed footage or interviews you might see with the royals now the film is visually very official in tone.

1966