Ending It All

Ending It All 1970

1

Michael Palin guides us on suicide in this humorous public information film on motorway safety.

1970

Lonely Water

Lonely Water 1973

5.50

Warning children not to play near 'dark and lonely' water, a horror film style look and voice-over is used in this film to highlight the dangers.

1973

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

Daybreak in Udi

Daybreak in Udi 1949

4.30

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

Comprehensive School

Comprehensive School 1962

1

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

1962

A State Visit to Turkey by Queen Elizabeth II

A State Visit to Turkey by Queen Elizabeth II 1971

1

Britain and Turkey had not always enjoyed the ‘special’ friendship referred to in the commentary. Their armies were on opposing sides in the First World War and there had been disagreementt over the future of Cyprus in the run up to the settlement of 1960. In the 1960s relations improved and this reciprocal tour (the President of Turkey, Cevdet Sunay, had paid a state visit to the United Kingdom in November 1967) was regarded as a milestone in the bilateral alliance between the two countries. The camera affords the viewer a prime vantage point by which to marvel at the splendour of the pageantry and contemplate every nuance of gesture and sartorial detail. As we linger on the bejewelled Queen waiting patiently at the British Embassy in Ankara to greet her guests we wonder what it might be like to be in her shoes.

1971

After Dark

After Dark 1979

1

Colin Welland presents this public information film about the hazards of nighttime driving.

1979

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 Pakistan

Britain Welcomes the President of Pakistan 1966

1

The President had been due to visit twice before, but on both occasions the trip had to be cancelled. The first time was in 1963, the same year as the Commonwealth visit by the President of India. The second cancellation occurred in 1965 when a longstanding dispute between India and Pakistan over the sovereignty of Kashmir boiled over into full-scale war in September of that year. However, as one might expect from a film made for international diplomacy purposes no reference is made to ongoing political problems either at home or abroad. Like the Indian presidential visit of 1963, the film was for screening to domestic audiences (both in the UK and in Pakistan) whose main interest would be in the pomp and ceremony of the visit, and the reception and status afforded to the President by the Queen and royal family.

1966

The World Is Rich

The World Is Rich 1947

1

The World Is Rich is a 1947 British documentary film directed by Paul Rotha about food shortages after World War II, outlining steps underway to deal with the problems. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

1947

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

Terence Conran

Terence Conran 1981

5.30

Documentary about Sir Terence Conran, an English designer, restaurateur, retailer and writer.

1981

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

West of England

West of England 1951

1

The people, the scenery and the industrial traditions of the Stroud valley and the growth of the woollen industry.

1951

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

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

Granny Gets the Point

Granny Gets the Point 1971

1

A short information film produced to get Britain ready for decimalisation.

1971

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