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British Propaganda Film

How film has been put to work to shape attitudes at home and promote British interests abroad.

For much of the modern democratic era, film has been the single most powerful mass medium. Its power to blend fact, fantasy and fiction into novel and attention-grabbing forms, together with its emotional directness, has made it the perfect medium for propaganda. Whether fighting wars, shaping behaviour or attempting to embed particular social values, the propaganda film has become a ubiquitous component of our media landscape.

This collection explores the long history of film propaganda in Britain, spanning not just war (hot or Cold) and peacetime, but also public health campaigns, pop culture, empire and decolonisation. On the way, it illustrates how, as the modern state has changed in its reach and scope, so have the forms, formats and uses of the propaganda film.

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London Line Colour No. 16 London Line Colour No. 16

Cinemagazine 1968 14 mins Silent Location: Surbiton

What do "I'm Backing Britain", electronic music and nuclear lighthouses have in common? Nothing at all, but they're all here in this 60s TV magazine show.

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Nurse and Martyr Nurse and Martyr

Biopic 1915 11 mins Silent

The moving true story of wartime heroine Nurse Edith Cavell, recreated in the aftermath of her execution.

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Zandra Rhodes Zandra Rhodes

Government sponsored film 1981 15 mins

Early 1980s portrait of fashion designer Zandra Rhodes, by fellow avant-garde creator, Peter Greenaway.

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Battle Front in Britain Battle Front in Britain

Documentary 1918 24 mins Silent

Growing potatoes in Green Park plus some handy uses for your old tin cans – it’s all part of the war effort on the home front.

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The Queen's State Visit to Iran The Queen's State Visit to Iran

Documentary 1961 14 mins

2-6 March 1961 saw the Queen and Prince Philip make their first and only state visit to Iran. Their host was Mohammed Reza Pahlavi (1919-80), the Shah of Iran, who had already made an official visit to Britain in 1959.

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Spare Time Spare Time

Documentary 1939 14 mins Location: Sheffield

A rare glimpse into the leisure pursuits of ordinary people in pre-war Britain.

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Listen to Britain Listen to Britain

Government sponsored film 1942 20 mins

Humphrey Jennings and Stewart McAllister's masterly collage of the various people and classes of Britain - at home and at work, at war and at peace - is one of the great films of war-time Britain.

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Aids - Monolith Aids - Monolith

Public Information Filler 1987 1 mins

Portentous imagery and John Hurt’s grave voiceover define this key film from a £5 million campaign to combat the AIDS epidemic.

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Coughs and Sneezes Coughs and Sneezes

Public Information Filler 1945 1 mins

One of Richard Massingham’s most famous public information films, which lead to the ubiquitous mantra: "Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases".

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Your Very Good Health Your Very Good Health

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1948 9 mins

Long before the ‘Charley Says’ campaign of the 1970s and ‘80s, another cartoon Charley was used to demystify the newly created NHS.

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Salute to Farmers Salute to Farmers

Documentary 1941 14 mins

With feeding the nation a wartime priority, agricultural workers are heralded as soldiers of the plough.

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If War Should Come If War Should Come

Public Information Filler 1939 10 mins

With its soothing Elgar soundtrack and calm commentary, this retrospectively poignant public information film aimed to reassure a pre-war Britain.

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Start a Land Club Start a Land Club

Government sponsored film 1942 8 mins

The wartime potato shortage is addressed in this marvellous film from 1942 - exhorting workers and school children to lend a hand on local farms by joining Land Clubs.

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Robinson Charley Robinson Charley

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1948 10 mins

No man is an island, but Charley represents his nation in this economical cartoon tale of Britain’s economics

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Good Value Good Value

Documentary 1942 8 mins

A tribute to British workmanship - from Witney blankets to Sheffield cutlery.

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Victory Parade Victory Parade

Documentary 1946 21 mins

Soldiers from the far reaches of the British Empire arrive in London to take part in the official commemoration of the end of war in Europe.

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African Student Families African Student Families

Cinemagazine 1975 10 mins Silent Location: Westminster

Cinemagazine London Line looks at the support available in London for African students and their families.

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Hello! West Indies Hello! West Indies

Government sponsored film 1943 23 mins

WWII propaganda messages back home

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Nigerian Footballers in England Nigerian Footballers in England

Documentary 1949 10 mins

An enlightening account of the first Nigerian football team to tour outside West Africa.

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Glenda Jackson Glenda Jackson

Cinemagazine 1971 14 mins

Glenda Jackson talks about acting for theatre and for the camera

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London Line No. 113 London Line No. 113

Cinemagazine 1966 14 mins Location: Sevenoaks

If your interests happen to include rainwear, concrete in Africa, science in Sevenoaks, and gbedu drum music, then this is your lucky day...

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British Sporting Personalities: Peter May British Sporting Personalities: Peter May

Biopic 1962 9 mins Silent

Surrey and England cricketer Peter May's life on and off the field - from batting in Ashes tests to his wedding day.

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The Cumberland Story The Cumberland Story

Government sponsored film 1947 45 mins Location: Workington

Humphrey Jennings’ post-war documentary chronicles the modernisation of the Cumberland coal mines in the 1940s.

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The People's Land The People's Land

Travelogue 1943 10 mins Location: Dover

From the white cliffs to the emerald Lakes, this patriotic Technicolor postcard of England pays tribute to the National Trust.

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Market Town Market Town

Travelogue 1942 10 mins Location: Newark-on-Trent

Rise and shine! Newark market calls with a seductive array of produce.

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So This Is London So This Is London

Documentary 1933 14 mins Silent Location: Westminster

London at its best? This gorgeous lyrical portrait was made by pioneering female director Marion Grierson.

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Ready to Wear Ready to Wear

Cinemagazine 1962 10 mins Location: London

A portrait of the British fashion industry that patronises its African intended audience

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Moslems in Britain - People Moslems in Britain - People

Documentary 1964 24 mins

A series of interviews about life in the capital with Muslims living and studying in London

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Lads of the Village Lads of the Village

Comedy 1919 76 mins Silent

Humour and adventure as the returning heroes of an English village recount their exploits in the Mesopotamian war.

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Bully Boy Bully Boy

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1914 6 mins Silent

Lightning sketch propaganda stirs outrage about Reims bombing, and features a British bulldog eating the German sausage

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Desert Victory (Film Trailer) Desert Victory (Film Trailer)

Documentary 1943 1 mins

Stirring trailer for renowned war documentary Desert Victory - coming to a screen near you!

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Springtime in an English Village Springtime in an English Village

Documentary 1944 7 mins Location: Stanion

An extraordinary and unexpected snapshot of rural life in wartime in which a young black girl is crowned Queen of the May.

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Sierra Leone Greets the Queen Sierra Leone Greets the Queen

Non-Fiction 1961 21 mins

The Queen and Prince Philip's visit in late 1961, the year Sierra Leone became independent from Britain.

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London Line Colour Series 1 Issue 1 London Line Colour Series 1 Issue 1

Cinemagazine 1966 14 mins Location: Fulham

Swinging 60s meets capital of cool in a fun and funky TV magazine show aimed at Canadian audiences.

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Comprehensive School Comprehensive School

Documentary 1962 11 mins Location: Holland Park

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

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Strangers Strangers

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1973 1 mins

Who needs to talk to strangers when you're the only one who can understand the garbled mewling of your best buddy cat, Charley?

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Ian Nairn Ian Nairn

Cinemagazine 1970 14 mins Silent Location: Pimlico

The maverick architectural critic tours two pioneering post-war housing estates in Pimlico, London.

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London Can Take It! London Can Take It!

Government sponsored film 1940 9 mins Location: London

Humphrey Jennings and Harry Watt’s famous GPO film is an enduring example of British self-mythology; a hymn to London’s resilience that helped persuade America to join the war.

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The Volunteer The Volunteer

Government sponsored film 1944 42 mins Location: Denham

Entertaining and evocative Fleet Air Arm drama-doc propaganda piece, written and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

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War Office Official Topical Budget and Pictorial News 343-1 War Office Official Topical Budget and Pictorial News 343-1

Non-Fiction 1918 7 mins Silent

Proud servicemen accept awards for valour in a morale boosting late-war newsreel

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Charley in New Town Charley in New Town

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1948 8 mins

Charley says (no, not that one) that Britain’s new towns are great

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Uncommon Market Uncommon Market

Documentary 1972 32 mins

Different time, similar debates as Britain gears up to join the EEC.

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Henry Pluckrose Henry Pluckrose

Cinemagazine 1971 14 mins Location: City of London

First things first - profile of an inspirational figure in primary education

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Heinz Baked Beans : Common Market Heinz Baked Beans : Common Market

Advert 1972 1 mins

In 1972 Britain entered the European common market full of beans. What could go wrong?

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Bloemfontein: Unfurling the Flag Bloemfontein: Unfurling the Flag

Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Silent

WKL Dickson raced from his sickbed to ensure this patriotic moment in the Boer War was recorded on film.

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Return to Life Return to Life

Documentary 1960 29 mins

John Krish’s deeply compassionate documentary on the resettlement of refugees in Britain; made to mark World Refugee Year 1959.

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Ambulance Crossing the Modder Ambulance Crossing the Modder

Non-Fiction 1899 1 mins Silent

A surprisingly languid scene shot far from the Boer War battlefields.

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Night Mail Night Mail

Documentary 1936 24 mins Location: Euston Sta

The flagship of the GPO Film Unit's output and a cornerstone of British documentary, featuring music by Benjamin Britten and the verse of W.H. Auden.