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DVD003664: Land of Promise: The British Documentary Movement 1930 - 1950
: Flaherty, Robert; Rotha, Paul; Elton, Arthur; Anstey, Edgar; Wright, Basil; Jennings, Humphrey; Grierson, Ruby; Bond, Ralph; Alexander, Donald; Watt, Harry; Bell, Geoffrey; Carr, James; Lee, Jack; Holmes, J.B.; Chambers, J.D.; Page, John; Keene, Ralph; McAllister, Stewart; Jackson, Pat; Anderson, Max; Law, Michael; Gysin, Francis; Annakin, Ken; Bryant, Gerard; Ellitt, Jack; Bishop, Terry; Mander, Kay; Pickering, Peter; Bradford, Peter; Dickson, Paul;
: BFI, 2010

Description:: DVD - Region 2. viewing copy. 4 videodiscs of 4.
b/w. fullscreen. sound - Dolby digital monaural.
Notes:: Supplemental features include: CLOSE UP (interviews with some of the filmmakers) (Shona Barrett & Caroline Milar, 2008, 40 min). Essay and summary book available from checkout.
Director:: Flaherty, Robert
Production Co:: Empire Marketing Board Film Unit; Gaumont-British Picture Corporation
Running Time:: Short. 20 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1931
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 1. A survey of industry in Britain emphasising the importance of craftsmanship. The arts and crafts that preceded the industrial revolution which depended on coal mined a mile below the surface. Glass blowing and glass being made for domestic and industrial use. In a steel foundry molten pig iron is poured into moulds. Erection of steel work for a new hotel in Marble Arch, London. Testing steel for use in aeroplane engines; the skill of craftsmen in machining. Goods being sent overseas on ships; these goods represent the work of thousands of skilled British workers.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Alternate Title:: Ship
Director:: Rotha, Paul
Production Co:: Gaumont British Instructional
Running Time:: Short. 24 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1935
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 1. Part of the ‘Face of Britain’ series.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Elton, Arthur
Production Co:: London Film Prod.
Running Time:: Short. 11 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1935
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 1.
Director:: Elton, Arthur; Anstey, Edgar
Production Co:: British Commercial Gas Assoc.
Running Time:: Short. 15 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1935
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 1.
Director:: Wright, Basil
Production Co:: Realist Film Unit
Running Time:: Short. 23 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1937
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 1.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Jennings, Humphrey
Production Co:: Dufay-Chromex Ltd
Running Time:: Short. 8 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: color
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1937
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 1. About the Cornish china clay industry and the use of sailing boats there.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Alternate Title:: To-Day We Live
Director:: Grierson, Ruby; Bond, Ralph
Production Co:: Strand Film Co.
Running Time:: Short. 23 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1937
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 1.
Director:: Alexander, Donald
Production Co:: Strand Film Co.
Running Time:: Short. 16 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1937
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 1. The story of a social experiment in one of the mining valleys of South Wales': how about four hundred unemployed men work in a co-operative farming and provision organisation; a plea for financial contributions for subsistence production.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Alternate Title:: Peace of Britain
Director:: Rotha, Paul
Production Co:: Strand Film Co.
Running Time:: Short. 3 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1936
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 1. A brief poster film urging 'Peace by discussion'.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: uncredited
Production Co:: GPO Film Unit for the Home Office
Running Time:: Short. 9 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1939
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 1.
Alternate Title:: Britain on Guard
Director:: Watt, Harry
Production Co:: GPO Film Unit
Running Time:: Short. 7 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1940
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary, War, Propaganda
Notes:: On Disc 2. Short propaganda film intended to boost spirit after the fall of France. A commentary spoken by J.B. Priestley focuses on the greatness of Britain and the efforts of all classes to preserve her power and integrity. Compiled from archive material.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Bell, Geoffrey
Production Co:: Shell Film Unit
Running Time:: Short. 10 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1940
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary, War, Propaganda
Notes:: On Disc 2.
Director:: Grierson, Ruby
Production Co:: Realist Film Unit
Running Time:: Short. 10 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1940
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary, War, Propaganda, Female Directors
Notes:: On Disc 2.
Director:: Carr, James
Production Co:: Strand Film Co.; Ministry of Information
Running Time:: Short. 9 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1940
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary, War, Propaganda
Notes:: On Disc 2.
Director:: Jennings, Humphrey
Production Co:: Crown Film Unit
Running Time:: Short. 7 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1941
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary, War, Propaganda
Notes:: On Disc 2. Narrated by Laurence Olivier. A call to arms through images and words of Britain's countryside, people and poets.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Lee, Jack; Holmes, J.B.
Production Co:: Crown Film Unit
Running Time:: Short. 27 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1941
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary, War, Propaganda
Notes:: On Disc 2. About everyday life during the Blitz.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Alexander, Donald
Production Co:: Ministry of Information
Running Time:: Short. 16 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1941
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary, War, Propaganda
Notes:: On Disc 2. A look at the problems facing working mothers during World War II of where to leave their young children during working hours.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Chambers, J.D.
Production Co:: Paul Rotha Productions
Running Time:: Short. 14 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1942
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary, War, Propaganda
Notes:: On Disc 2.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Page, John
Production Co:: Paul Rotha Productions; Seven League Productions
Running Time:: Short. 13 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1942
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary, War, Propaganda
Notes:: On Disc 2. Describes the history of the Women's Institutes and their aims and methods of working and indicates how they can promote projects of local and national importance.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Page, John
Production Co:: Greenpark Prod.
Running Time:: Short. 13 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1942
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary, War, Propaganda
Notes:: On Disc 2.
Director:: Jennings, Humphrey; McAllister, Stuart
Production Co:: Crown Film Unit
Running Time:: Short. 19 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1942
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 2. An anthology of war-time sounds in Britain.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Jackson, Pat
Production Co:: Crown Film Unit
Running Time:: Short. 8 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1942
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary, War, Propaganda
Notes:: On Disc 2. Film emphasising the importance of building factories during wartime.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Anderson, Max
Production Co:: Realist Film Unit
Running Time:: Short. 14 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1943
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary, War, Propaganda
Notes:: On Disc 2.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Jennings, Humphrey
Production Co:: Crown Film Unit
Running Time:: Short. 37 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1946
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 2.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Alternate Title:: Land of Promise an Argument About our Homes and Houses
Director:: Rotha, Paul
Production Co:: Paul Rotha Productions; Films of Fact
Running Time:: Feature. 63 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1946
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 3. 'Film argument' about homes and houses. Is in three parts:- Homes as they were. Homes as they are. Homes as they might be.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Rotha, Paul
Production Co:: Films of Fact
Running Time:: Short. 9 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1947
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 3.
Alternate Title:: What a Life
Director:: Law, Michael
Production Co:: Public Relationship Films
Running Time:: Short. 11 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1948
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 3.
Director:: Jennings, Humphrey
Production Co:: Wessex Film Productions
Running Time:: Short. 10 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1948
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 3. Anthology of four meditations on the present state of England by Ralph Vaughan Williams, James Fisher, John Ormston and Osbert Lancaster.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Gysin, Francis
Production Co:: Films of Fact
Running Time:: Short. 10 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1946
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 3.
Director:: Annakin, Ken
Production Co:: Greenpark Prod.
Running Time:: Short. 17 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1945
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 3.
Director:: Bryant, Gerard
Production Co:: Crown Film Unit
Running Time:: Short. 16 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1945
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 3.
Director:: Chambers, J.D.; Ellitt, Jack
Production Co:: Data Film Prod.
Running Time:: Short. 6 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1947
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary, Animation
Notes:: On Disc 3.
Director:: Alexander, Donald
Production Co:: Data Film Prod.
Running Time:: Short. 25 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1946
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 3. Part of the “Post-war Job” series.
Director:: Bishop, Terry
Production Co:: Greenpark Prod.
Running Time:: Short. 26 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1947
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 3. Life and work in the Staffordshire Potteries.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Mander, Kay
Production Co:: Basic Films
Running Time:: Short. 32 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1948
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 4.
Director:: Pickering, Peter
Production Co:: Data Film Prod.
Running Time:: Short. 9 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1949
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 4.
Director:: uncredited
Production Co:: Crown Film Unit
Running Time:: Short. 9 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1950
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 4.
Director:: Bradford, Peter
Production Co:: Associated British Pathe; Film Centre
Running Time:: Short. 19 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1950
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 4. Part of the ‘Wealth of the World’ series.
Director:: Dickson, Paul
Production Co:: World Wide Pictures
Running Time:: Short. 34 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1950
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 4. How a glider pilot who lost his legs, and the power of speech in the war was able to become an active and useful member of the community through his own efforts and with the help of others.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Jennings, Humphrey
Production Co:: Wessex Film Productions
Running Time:: Short. 23 minutes
Sound:: sound - Dolby digital monaural
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1950
Language:: English
Closed Captioned
Genre:: Documentary
Notes:: On Disc 4. Meditations on the 'English tradition' and achievements through the centuries. Made for the Festival of Britain.
Link to:: FII catalog |
Director:: Wilkinson, Hazel
Production Co:: BFI Compilation Unit
Running Time:: Short. 13 minutes
Sound:: sound
Color:: b/w
Country:: United Kingdom
Year:: 1959
Language:: English
Genre:: Documentary, Female Directors
Notes:: A record of an address by John Grierson at the National Film Theatre in August 1959 to mark the NFT's "Thirty Years of British Documentary" season.

Land of Promise: The British Documentary Movement 1930 - 1950

BFI, 2010

Titles