An account of how Britain entered the War. This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/br More
This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-council-film-collection/about-the-coll More
This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-council-film-collection/about-the-coll More
A dramatic account of the lifeboatmen of Mousehole in Cornwall, and their efforts to rescue the crew of a foundering ship. Trivia: This film is set in Mousehole in Cornwall. The ships in the harbour at Mouseho More
This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-council-film-collection/about-the-coll More
Britain's check to the German drive for world domination. The Ministry of Information requested that the film should be withdrawn as it was considered too direct propaganda, and that overseas audiences would ha More
This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-council-film-collection/about-the-coll More
This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-council-film-collection/about-the-coll More
This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-council-film-collection/about-the-coll More
Scotland's great inventors. Trivia: Land of Invention contains shots of the RMS Queen Elizabeth - the largest passenger liner built at the time, and for 56 years thereafter. It last appeared in film as the cov More
A typical school day for the three children of the Brown family at Nursery, Junior, and Senior Schools, and the principles behind their education. Trivia: The senior school featured in this film is Northwood S More
'Cargoes' follows the S.S. Ionian as she delivers her cargo around the Mediterranean - her final peacetime journey. Trivia: This film is a recut version of the film known as S.S. Ionian, and then as Her Last T More
The film is set in one of the Wedgwood factories near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, though it is thought to feature both the Barlaston and Etruria Works. The pattern seen on the transfer paper in the film at More
The work of Trinity House, England's General Lighthouse Authority, and the life of a lighthouse-keeper. Trivia: The main character in this film, Bill Blewitt, was a genuine Cornish fisherman and postman. After More
A description of the Mersey from its source in the Derbyshire hills to its estuary below Liverpool. Trivia: At 05:00 'Merseyway' in Stockport can be seen. In 1965 this area would become Merseyway Shopping Cen More
This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-council-film-collection/about-the-coll More
The sinking of the 'Atlantic Queen' and the survival of its crew is supposedly based off a real series of events where the S.S. Richmond Castle was torpedoed in the Atlantic Ocean, and crewman Angus Murray led More
One of the establishing shots is set in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire. Mr Primrose, who served at secretary to the British Council Film Committee, retired to this village after leaving the British Council F More
'Queen Cotton' is a Technicolor introduction to the manufacture and design of both woven and printed cotton fabrics, the products of which are presented in a stunning fashion show. Trivia: The fashion show at More
In a bid to encourage city-dwellers to leave behind the restrictions of war, 'The Green Girdle' escapes from the austere urban landscape of inner-city London and savours the natural delights of the capital's ru More
A colourful look at the various types of gardens to be found in England, a nation of gardeners. Trivia: This film was digitised from the only known physical copy of the film. Thought lost, it was located by TI More
This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-council-film-collection/about-the-coll More
Chronicling London during the midst of World War II, 'London 1942' illustrates the changes in daily life brought about by the pressures of war. Trivia: A uncredited young Bill Owen, most famous known for his p More
The Lloyd's signal station depicted is still standing today at The Lizard, Cornwall. The S.S. Armadillo that features in this film appears to be fictionalised. There was, however, an actual S.S. Armadillo, a m More
This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-council-film-collection/about-the-coll More
This study of maize (corn) is aided by diagrammatic, time-lapse, and microscopic footage. Trivia: This was the first film of the Junior Biology series. The British Council decided to make 'educational' films a More
Follows the production of an issue of The Times during the Blitz, from the daily editorial conference to the printing presses. Trivia: Though it is not explicitly stated in Morning Paper, it can be seen that t More
This film has been made available courtesy the British Council Film Collection. Trivia - Teeth of Steel is, when compare to other films this collection, unusually explicit about the war effort. This is possibl More
A journey through the ages, examining the motivations of town-builders from the Iron Age to the 1940s, and extolling the virtues of 'modern' planning. Trivia: Locations featured includes: Roman Calleva Atrebat More
Market Town is an interesting film to compare to modern day Newark, as much of the town remains the same aesthetically. For example the Midland Hotel, the Market, and Town Hall are all still much as they were. More
The Achievements of British Industry with an emphasis on production during World War 2. Highlights of the film include factories producing Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft for the war effort. Note: The film sta More
Troops from a number of countries can be seen in the Overseas Service Club at the beginning of The Royal Mile, Edinburgh. The various nationalities present include servicemen from Canada, Czechoslovakia, France More
This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-council-film-collection/about-the-coll More
This film has been made available for research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-council-film-collection/about-the-collection. This f More
Acting as an excellent layman's introduction to the origins of one of the most common languages on the planet, 'History of the English Language' demonstrates how language changes over time, and presents England More
This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-council-film-collection/about-the-coll More
From the laying of the keel through to the riveting of steel plates - teams of men work together to build and launch a steel ship. Trivia The shipyard in Steel Goes to Sea is the Burntisland Shipbuilding Compa More
'Local Government' follows 'John Blunt', a farmer, as he seeks to become a councillor in his local borough, and the work of the local council once he is elected. Trivia: Whilst the opening shots are set in the More
This film shows the density of railway traffic at Waterloo, a London railway terminus (aka train station), during World War Two - 1704 trains enter and leave the station every day! This film has been made avai More
An upbeat overview of British Women's contribution to the war effort in both military and civilian capacities, featuring a speech by Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother). Trivia Women in Wartime was intended for More
An amusing and informative introduction to the manufacture of power cables, set to an jaunty musical score. 'The manufacture of cables for transmitting electric power is shown. Copper bars are rolled and drawn More
The peculiar Northern Ireland accent owes to the fact that the narrator, Robert MacDermot, though very multi-talented, was not Irish and never lived in Ireland. Ulster and Letter from Britain are the only film More
Three Canadian soldiers visiting London discuss the experiences of Britain that they have been writing home to loved ones about. Trivia: This film was specifically produced for Canadian audiences, in order to More
This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-council-film-collection/about-the-coll More
A look at 1940's police officers, their duties whilst on the beat, and their role within the community. Trivia: The Man on the Beat is set in the old district of Birmingham known as Ladywood. Since the film wa More
An overview of the progressive facilities at the Comrie Colliery coal mine in Scotland, with an emphasis on the steps taken to ensure worker welfare there. Trivia: When The New Mine was made in 1945, there wer More
The River Tyne - a centre of many industries such as paper, chemicals, coal, steel and shipbuilding. This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British More
The University of Cambridge, and the life of those who study there. Trivia: Several renowned academics appear in Cambridge. Sir Lawrence Bragg, in his capacity as Director of the Cavendish Laboratory, would pl More
Westminster Abbey was so challenging to produce during the war that it took nearly three years to make, and thwarted two production companies. Ralph Keene, director of several British Council films, wrote: "I a More
Football as a true British institution; 'The Great Game' starts with schoolboys being taught by famous footballers, followed by extended footage of the Football League War Cup Finals from 1945. Trivia: The fil More
Four educational films about rabbits were produced in the mid-1940s: the British Council's 'The Life of the Rabbit', and 'Development of the Rabbit', plus G.B. Instructional's 'Wild Rabbits' and 'Rabbits! Rabbi More
General Election focuses on the electoral race of one of the 640 local constituencies in Britain - that of Kettering, Northamptonshire during the run up to the 1945 general election. Trivia: Features Gilbert M More
A look at Britain's trade unions: how they operated, why they were so important, and how they affected the lives of their members. Trivia: Actor John Slater, who narrates and plays the worker in this title, al More
Although the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis was first used in humans in 1921, it did not become popular until after the Second World War, and the first antibiotic cure for tuberculosis was only discovered in More
Magna Carta was put into production in 1942, but was still unfinished in 1944 when the driving force behind it, Phillip Guedalla (Chair of the British Council Film Committee), died. It is not thought that the f More
An informative account of the history, manufacture, and scientific principles behind a steam turbine. 'The rotary steam engine; early designs of Hero of Alexandria, and Branca, and the Pelton wheel. Parsons' s More
An amusing look at the production of a picture magazine, following the journalist 'Jim' as he investigates a town planning story in the north of England. Trivia: The specific roles of most of the individuals l More
Dramatically told, English Criminal Justice takes us on a journey through the principles and procedures of the various courts of law in Britain. Trivia: Alfred Hitchcock requested a copy of English Criminal Ju More
Scenes from the early 1940's showing British children at play, doing their best not to be affected by the events of World War Two. This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational More
Locations of historical interest in this film include: The White Cliffs of Dover; St Andrew's Church, Alfriston, East Sussex; Bodiam Castle, East Sussex; The Bridgewater Monument, Ashridge Park; Little Moreton More
Though no names are given, the film is set in the town of Boston, Lincolnshire - identifiable by the often-shown tower of St Botolph's church, known locally as 'The Stump'. The windmill that features briefly is More
The college depicted in the film is now called the Britannia Royal Naval College Darmouth, and still functions to this day. In September 1942, Dartmouth was bombed by six Focke-Wulf aircraft, resulting in the More
Looks at the processes involved in the manufacture of optical lenses. The highland sand mine featured is the Lochaline silica sand mine, which opened in 1940. Although closed down in 2008 the mine was re-opene More
The role of inns as social centres. This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collection. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-c More
1940's vocational training and education for the visually impaired in England. This film has been made available for non-commercial research and educational purposes courtesy the British Council Film Collectio More
The two narrators are none other than actor Sir Ralph Richardson and cricket commentator John Arlott. Rather than script the film, the decision was taken to film the game and then build the film around the re More