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

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

Drive Carefully, Darling

Drive Carefully, Darling 1975

1

An exhortation to drivers to pay attention to road safety. In just 15 minutes, John Krish manages to give this road safety film something new and different by presenting events not from the point of view of the driver, but of his brain, memory and ego, who operate from a rather camp technology-driven command centre.

1975

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

What's In a Number

What's In a Number 1948

1

National insurance made amusing by the eccentric Richard Massingham.

1948

Come Saturday

Come Saturday 1949

1

Part of BFI collection "Portrait of a People."

1949

Royal Destiny

Royal Destiny 1953

1

Produced by British Movietone for “Her Majesty’s Central Office of Information”, Royal Destiny traces Queen Elizabeth II’s young life up to her ascension to the throne.

1953

No Short Cut

No Short Cut 1964

1

The story of Jimmy, who conscientiously takes the National Cycling Proficiency Scheme test, and Leslie, who suffers a series of mishaps through his own negligence.

1964

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

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

Insaaf

Insaaf 1971

1

Filmed partly in Urdu, Insaaf (Injustice) is a public information film aimed at Britain’s South Asian communities. Produced through the Central Office of Information for the Race Relations Board, it seeks to inform viewers of the Board’s role in enforcing the 1968 Race Relations Act, via the story of a young man denied a job he is qualified for due to the racism of his potential employer.

1971

After Dark

After Dark 1979

1

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

1979

Design for Today

Design for Today 1965

3.50

A musical celebration of British innovations within a typical home. Part of BFI collection "Design for Today."

1965

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

The Poet's Eye

The Poet's Eye 1964

1

A tribute to William Shakespeare devised by Geoffrey Buckland-Smith and made in connection with the quatro-centenary celebrations. Spoken extracts from Shakespeare's works (read by Stephen Murray) blend with visuals of scenes in Britain today which illustrate his references to countryside or childhood, and the sea or to the taverns and trades of London. Includes sequence of Olivier as Henry V and is accompanied by period music on the lute by Desmond Dupré.

1964

The Royal Tour of the Caribbean

The Royal Tour of the Caribbean 1966

1

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh undertook an official visit to the region in February 1966, as documented in this film. The destinations on this month long excursion included: British Guiana; Trinidad and Tobago; Grenada; St. Vincent; Barbados; St. Lucia; Dominica; Montserrat; Antigua; St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla; Tortola (Virgin Islands); the Bahamas; Jamaica. This rich and detailed Technicolor travelogue was the only film authorised by the Palace. Strict instructions were given prior to the production being given the green light, most notably that the royals could only be filmed when ‘engaged in a public function’. Unlike the more relaxed footage or interviews you might see with the royals now the film is visually very official in tone.

1966

I Stopped, I Looked and I Listened

I Stopped, I Looked and I Listened 1975

6.00

Members of the Lewisham Darby and Joan Club discussing road safety and comparing today's difficult traffic conditions with the more leisurely conditions they once knew.

1975

Broken Glass

Broken Glass 1973

1

As part of a wider anti-litter message, this film addresses the problems of rubbish left on beaches.

1973