Hepworth Cinema Interviews - I, II and III

Issued from September 1916, these "interviews" - 36 in all - with politicians and other leading figures of the day served as propaganda, selling war to the cinema-going public. Cecil M Hepworth, a film pioneer, shot his subjects in a government office especially fitted out for the task, using several different props/backdrops. Interestingly, Lloyd George's backdrop, if it is a backdrop, is unique to his interview (as secretary of state for war or prime minister).

A mid-shot/s of each interviewee is accompanied by inter-titles giving his name (and in reel 3 his position/occupation) and an extract from a speech. They all address the camera but do not necessarily appear to be speaking their quoted words. Some exhibit a touch of dramatic flair (e.g. John Masefield wipes his nose; FM French plays with his pince-nez; Lord Derby lights a cigarette and puffs away); some engage in a dialogue with the cameraman, appearing to act on his suggestions as to what they should do. According to Hepworth, who pledged 25% of the profits to the Sportsmen's Ambulance Fund, the cabinet ministers were all embued with GSOHs, an attribute which, he felt, served them and Britain well.