The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free

War Weapons Week 1941
A readiness to do whatever is needed, and a certain nonchalance, is evident in these service personnel as they march to raise money, looking confident in their ultimate victory.
From the collection of:

Overview
Nearly two years into the war, and still much looks ad hoc and improvised on this fundraising parade for weapons through the streets of Chapeltown in South Yorkshire in 1941. Vans get commandeered to help in fire fighting and first aid, while the squaddies, marching with a certain swagger, look distinctly shorter than the policemen marching with them. And afterwards, the women try their hands at cricket and darts.
This film is one of several made by a local dentist, Willie Thorne, of activities in Chapeltown during the war. Before the US entered the war, and still with the threat of invasion, War Weapon Weeks was a way to encourage people to save in War Bonds and similar Government schemes to help re-arm. Chapeltown was close to Sheffield’s munitions production, and to Newton Chambers, which produced 1,160 Churchill tanks during the war. It had an anti-aircraft gun site situated to protect these targets from Luftwaffe attacks. Most of the local men worked in coal mining, a reserved occupation, while many women worked in the munitions factories in Sheffield. The town also took in refugees from the London Blitz.
Related

Taskforce Chappletown Taskforce Chappletown
Documentary 1986 25 mins Location: Chapeltown
With low job prospects and poverty on the rise, the govt. steps in to aid the inner cities, generating scant enthusiasm from those living there.

Chapeltown: One Year On Chapeltown: One Year On
Documentary 1987 21 mins Location: Chapeltown
A documentary that reveals the gap between the talent and determination of a community, and its lack of control over its own destiny.

Thorncliffe Thorncliffe
Documentary 1935 27 mins Location: Chapeltown
A look at Thorncliffe's extensive industrial heritage - from the 18th century to the 1930s.

Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.

Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.

Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.

Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass) Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass)
2013 61 mins
British cinematographer of The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, Hillsborough and Riff Raff reviews the art of the moving image.

Screenwriters' Lecture with Brian Helgeland Screenwriters' Lecture with Brian Helgeland
Inside Film 2012 27 mins
L.A. Confidential's screenwriter explains why he thinks writer's block is a myth, and reveals Clint Eastwood's unique powers of persuasion.

Olivier Assayas (Masterclass) Olivier Assayas (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2010 41 mins
Irma Vep writer/director Assayas moved from film journalism to filmmaking – a fascinating journey told with disarming honesty to Jonathan Romney.