A Diary for Timothy

A Diary for Timothy 1945

6.60

A narrator recounts the state of Great Britain near the end of WWII via a visual diary for the titular baby boy born in September 1944.

1945

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

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

Fires Were Started

Fires Were Started 1943

6.10

British film written and directed by Humphrey Jennings, filmed in documentary style showing the lives of firefighters through the Blitz in World War II.

1943

Copy Book Please

Copy Book Please 1948

1

This short post-war film was made to inform people how to address a letter correctly.

1948

Out of True

Out of True 1951

6.00

A BAFTA award nominated fictional drama about young Molly Slade who awakens one morning in a depressed state that gradually leads to a complete nervous breakdown and a suicide attempt. It was made as an educational film.

1951

Listen to Britain

Listen to Britain 1942

6.10

A depiction of life in wartime Britain during the Second World War. Director Humphrey Jennings visits many aspects of civilian life and of the turmoil and privation caused by the war, all without narration.

1942

Instruments of the Orchestra

Instruments of the Orchestra 1946

1

British educational documentary film about the principal instruments in the modern symphony orchestra, illustrated through Benjamin Britten's composition, "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra", for which it was commissioned.

1946

Mary's Birthday

Mary's Birthday 1951

4.50

The flower fairies help a little girl named Mary to thwart germs.

1951

Life in Her Hands

Life in Her Hands 1951

1

A woman blames herself for her husband's death. To overcome her grief and her guilt she becomes a nurse but then a patient dies while under her care.

1951

Words for Battle

Words for Battle 1941

6.17

Poetry by Rudyard Kipling, John Milton, and William Blake, and excerpts from speeches by Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill, all read by Laurence Olivier, illuminate documentary footage of England during its defense against the Nazi blitz in World War II. This short film serves as both propaganda and as a rallying cry to the British people.

1941

A Letter from Ulster

A Letter from Ulster 1943

1

A Letter From Ulster (1943). Northern Ireland's greatest film director Brian Desmond Hurst directed the film and his assistant director was fellow Ulsterman William (Bill) MacQuitty who went on to make the ultimate Titanic film A Night to Remember. The script was written by Terence Young who went on to direct the early Bond films. All the components were in place for a fine film and this short (32 minute) by the Crown Film Unit remains an important part of Ulster and America's cultural history. As the opening credit says "This film is dedicated to those members of the US Forces Who are our guests in these islands". The film shows American soldiers landing in Northern Ireland and settling into their new camps. The arrival of mail from 'back home' helps camp moral, however, two brothers receive none. Their commander realises that the two brothers have not sent any letters back to their parents and gives the order to write a letter home- A Letter From Ulster.

1943

The White Continent

The White Continent 1951

7.00

An account of the first expedition to the Queen Maud Land region of Antarctica.

1951

It Might Be You

It Might Be You 1946

1

A doctor talks about the number of injuries and deaths resulting from automobile accidents.

1946

Mr Jones Takes the Air

Mr Jones Takes the Air 1946

1

Perhaps the characters in this film are stupid or even laughable. Before YOU laugh at them remember that people behaving like them often cause accidents on the roads - and country roads are no exception.

1946

Coastal Command

Coastal Command 1942

4.00

Documentary style presentation of the work of RAF Coastal Command. Shows their work in protecting convoys and attacking enemy aircraft, ships and U-boats, all done by the actual men & women of the RAF.

1942