Series for schools about war - this episode covers the Second World War.
Produced in the 1960's.
Part 2 of a series of films made for schools entitled: "War and Society."
Devised and produced in association with the Schools Council and Nuffield Foundation Humanities Curriculum Project. Editor: Ron Glenister. Research: Charlie Gillett. Producer: Richard Dunn.
Title superimposed over A.R.P. posters. Churchill speech on the soundtrack - he speaks of the Spanish Armada and Nelson.
C/U of newspaper seller with poster reading: "Keep Calm and Dig." An American newsreel reports on the London Blitz - various shots of "historic buildings" on fire - firemen attempt to put out blazes. Interior of Aldwych tube station - being used as an air raid shelter - various shots. "Civilian heroes in the fight for freedom." Churchill is driven through bomb damaged streets - people line the road and wave. Churchill and wife stand in open topped vehicle waving at crowd. "Britain can take it!" states American narrator. M/S of Churchill making an after dinner speech about revenge upon the Germans. "News of the Day" report "R.A.F. Battles for Mastery of the Air." Various shots of aircraft in flight and in combat. Shots from inside the gunners cockpit. Bombs are dropped. Churchill is taken on a tour of bomb damaged streets. He talks to firemen at work, putting his finger in the jet of water from one man's hose. L/S of fireman hosing a shop in daylight. Various shots of damaged buildings. King and Queen and Churchill visit bomb damage - many shots. Speech about Hitler on soundtrack. Buildings on fire, night combat, explosions. Four people sit and play cards at a small table inside Aldwych tube station during an air raid. People have a sing song and cuddle each other during air raid in the Underground. Women knit, a baby has its face cleaned by its father, two men play an accordion, people buy cups of tea and sandwiches. Quintessential shots of people being cheerful in the face of adversity. Churchill speaks of the danger of an attack on the United Kingdom. Traffic drives over a makeshift bridge. C/U of a sign which reads: "Foylebridge - built by the Royal Engineers and opened by Mr W.A. Foyle. 9th November 1940.
High angle shot of a lorry driving over the bridge. Pathe Gazette item: "French in Action." Various shots of French soldiers loading and firing large artillery. Various shots of German prisoners of war. They walk behind barbed wire in a compound and stand in lines. C/U of some of the prisoners. Propaganda voice over. Various shots of prisoners.
Pathe Gazette item: "The Huns Have Passed This Way." L/S of building on fire. Children walk through the streets carrying their belongings. Northern France - bomb damage and destruction, buildings on fire. A wrecked maternity hospital - various shots. Bombed church. Shots of destroyed buildings. Travelling shot of a street in Northern France which has been more or less destroyed. "This is the mark of the Hun."
Pathe Gazette item: "King of the Belgians Orders Capitulation." Various shots of Belgian armies on the march. Various shots of the men in the trenches, in combat, camouflaging guns, firing etc. French division on the march to a new position. The British Expeditionary Forces - marching soldiers by day and by night. Home Front - first working Sunday of "the great arms drive." Men at work in munitions factory. Various shots of guns and ammunition being made.
World War Two.