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COI at 75
The Central Office of Information (COI) produced and distributed thousands of films for use across Britain, the Commonwealth and the world. Paid for by you the taxpayer, the films couldn’t have been more varied: documentary, drama, news, animation, comedy - even horror.
In this collection, 75 films mark the COI’s 75th anniversary, and reveal that sheer variety. Founded in 1946, finally closing in 2012, the COI worked for virtually every corner of government meeting every possible information, publicity and propaganda need. Here you’ll find samples of the COI’s iconic public information campaigns - sometimes humorous, often horrific - but you'll also find much more… Here are films used to project a positive image of Britain abroad – film as 'soft power' - and films used to recruit its workforces and support our public services at home. When the ever-changing requirements of the state meet the ever-ready skills of our creative industries, the results are richly fascinating and endlessly debatable.
Riding on Air Riding on Air
Documentary 1959 16 mins Location: London
A beautiful and evocative survey of cycling's golden years.
The Fatal Floor The Fatal Floor
Public Information Filler 1974 1 mins
Typically hard-hitting public information film about the threat posed by combining a rug and a freshly polished floor.
Handkerchief Drill Handkerchief Drill
Public Information Filler 1949 1 mins
Another of Richard Massingham’s snappy public information fillers finds the oafish everyman’s personal hygiene in question again.
The Smoking Machine The Smoking Machine
Documentary 1964 16 mins
Documentary warning children about the drawbacks of cigarettes – not least their addictiveness.
District Nurse District Nurse
Government sponsored film 1952 27 mins Location: Wadhurst
Never a dull moment for a rural district nurse in the early days of the NHS.
Race Relations Board Race Relations Board
Public Information Filler 1969 1 mins
New law targets discrimination in housing and employment in this eye-opening public information film.
Worn Tyres Can Kill Worn Tyres Can Kill
Public Information Filler 1972 1 mins Silent
A couple goes out for a drive, but their car has clearly seen better days - and so have its tyres.
Jet-propelled Germs Jet-propelled Germs
Documentary 1948 1 mins
One of several highly entertaining films from Richard Massingham about the dangers of uncontrolled sneezing.
His Fighting Chance His Fighting Chance
Government sponsored film 1949 10 mins
Eleanor Roosevelt and Michael Redgrave narrate this optimistic post-war film on the rehabilitation of disabled people with polio.
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.
The Sewing Machine The Sewing Machine
Public Information Filler 1973 1 mins
The Sewing Machine is a disturbing, 60 second road-safety film in which a mother, who sits at her sewing machine inside her house, warns her daughter to stay on the pavement, to no avail.
Space Invader Space Invader
Public Information Filler 1982 1 mins
Kitsch public information filler inspired by the classic arcade game
Lonely Water Lonely Water
1973 2 mins
Terrifying public information film presenting the horrific consequences of playing in or near rivers, ponds and other water hazards.
Blood Is Life Blood Is Life
Documentary 1957 16 mins
There will be blood: a public information film that engages the mind and tugs the heart.
Out of True Out of True
Instructional 1951 41 mins
An innovative drama-doc, one of the first to deal seriously with clinical depression
London Line No. 373 London Line No. 373
Cinemagazine 1971 15 mins Silent Location: Westminster
A Ghanaian fashion student and a Nigerian squash player are among the African community making a life in 70s Britain in this edition of the magazine show.
Green Cross Code - Splink Launch Green Cross Code - Splink Launch
Public Information Filler 1 mins
A former Doctor Who returns to Earth to deliver a road safety message
Coi: Seat Belts - Human Cannonball Coi: Seat Belts - Human Cannonball
Advert 1978 1 mins
A circus act – of sorts – combines with gallows humour in a shatteringly effective reminder to "clunk, click" even on the shortest trip.
Insaaf Insaaf
Government sponsored film 1971 43 mins
An extremely unusual, deeply fascinating public information film - targeted at the South Asian community and filmed partly in Urdu.
Furnival and Son Furnival and Son
Government sponsored film 1948 19 mins Location: Sheffield
Super location footage enlivens this drama-documentary on Sheffield's steel industry.
Life in Her Hands Life in Her Hands
Instructional 1951 55 mins
Kathleen Byron - of Black Narcissus fame - stars in one of the most ambitious recruitment films ever made.
What's in a Number What's in a Number
Documentary drama 1948 1 mins
National insurance made amusing by the eccentric Richard Massingham.
Smoking and You Smoking and You
School programme and Educational film 1963 11 mins
The anti-smoking campaign starts here, with the first ever anti-tobacco film – and very impressive it is too.
Nursing in the NHS: Spanish Nurses Recruitment Nursing in the NHS: Spanish Nurses Recruitment
Promotional 2002 8 mins
Nurses needed: this early 21st century recruitment video makes fascinating viewing today.
The Referee The Referee
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1976 4 mins
Wrestling as a metaphor for race relations in this short aimed at Britain's South-Asian community
Moslems in Britain - Places Moslems in Britain - Places
Documentary 1964 23 mins Location: Woking
Visit the places important to London's Muslim community in this informative short documentary.
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
Fair Rent Fair Rent
Documentary 1947 11 mins Location: Aberdeen
Power cuts, housing shortages and exorbitant rents – Aberdeen man Norrie Williamson goes head to head with his greedy landlady
West of England West of England
Industry sponsored film 1951 10 mins Location: Stroud
The Stroud valleys of Gloucestershire in glorious Technicolor - and with a Laurie Lee script.
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?
Women in Industry Women in Industry
Public Information Filler 1948 1 mins
The Ministry of Labour exhorts women to return to industry – the post-war production drive depends on them.
Dover, Spring 1947 Dover, Spring 1947
Documentary 1947 11 mins Location: Dover
Dover gets a makeover in this offbeat and pointed public information film.
Waverley Steps Waverley Steps
Documentary 1948 31 mins Location: Edinburgh
Beautifully evocative impression of a Sunday in early postwar Edinburgh.
AIDS: Iceberg AIDS: Iceberg
Public Information Filler 1987 1 mins
Simple and devastatingly effective, a key advert from the UK's first major AIDS awareness campaign.
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.
Parade No. 112 Parade No. 112
1973 9 mins
Follow the remarkable intercontinental process of 1970s steel manufacture, from Liberian iron ore to titanium jewellery.
Uganda Asians Uganda Asians
Non-Fiction 1972 4 mins
How will Britain respond to the plight of thousands of refugees?
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
How to Use the Telephone How to Use the Telephone
Government sponsored film 1948 19 mins
Hold please. Enter a distinctly British bureaucracy as the post-war Civil Service learns to be civil on the telephone
Dying for a Smoke Dying for a Smoke
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1967 10 mins
What the Devil made you start smoking?
Firework : Eyes Firework : Eyes
Public Information Filler 1974 1 mins
Stark 70s firework safety film which mixes the everyday and the uncanny
Green Cross Code - He's Great Green Cross Code - He's Great
Public Information Filler 1976 0 mins
David Prowse (the frame of Darth Vader) appears as the iconic Green Cross Code Man, heaping praise on a young GXC expert.
Talk about Work Talk about Work
Instructional film/TV programme 1971 15 mins Location: Liverpool
Ken Loach makes Public Information Film shock!
Instruments of the Orchestra Instruments of the Orchestra
Performance 1946 18 mins
One of Benjamin Britten’s best-known pieces, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, was composed for this film.
Playing with Fire Playing with Fire
Public Information Filler 1947 10 mins
You're asking for trouble when you play with fire - and this public information film is the stuff of nightmares
Modern Day Nightingales Modern Day Nightingales
School programme and Educational film 1978 5 mins
Gripping glimpses of modern nursing - on the frontline at Guy’s Hospital.
Road Test Pedestrian Road Test Pedestrian
Public Information Filler 1974 1 mins Location: London
Frank Thornton – Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served? – gives a pedestrian a road test in this snappy public information film.
Never Go with Strangers Never Go with Strangers
Documentary 1971 18 mins
Is this the scariest public information film ever? This hard-hitting warning against 'stranger danger' was considered too distressing to be broadcast on television.
Searching Searching
Public Information Filler 1974 1 mins
John Krish’s haunting fire prevention film prowls through a carefully designed burned-out shell of a set.
Your Children's Play Your Children's Play
Children's 1951 20 mins
Need some post-war parenting advice? Then this is the film for you.
Atoms at Work Atoms at Work
1952 11 mins Location: Harwell
A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at Harwell's nuclear research establishment and the peaceful applications of atomic energy.
Festival in London Festival in London
Documentary 1951 10 mins Location: Lambeth Br
Experience the futuristic delights on offer at London's South Bank during the Festival of Britain
Simply Metric Simply Metric
Public Information Filler 1973 14 mins
Wouldn't budge an inch for a centimetre? This guide to the new-fangled system of metrication may change your mind.
Something Completely Different Something Completely Different
1974 4 mins Silent Location: Doune
Join John Cleese and the cast of Monty Python and the Holy Grail on location in Scotland
Morecambe and Wise - Be Wise Don't Drink and Drive Morecambe and Wise - Be Wise Don't Drink and Drive
Public Information Filler 1963 1 mins
Ernie tells Eric to ‘be wise’ and not drive home after their Christmas party
Glenda Jackson Glenda Jackson
Cinemagazine 1971 14 mins
Glenda Jackson talks about acting for theatre and for the camera
Understanding Aggression Understanding Aggression
Documentary 1960 23 mins
Eye-opening drama-doc, originally used in psychiatric nursing training.
Road Safety - Think Bike Road Safety - Think Bike
Public Information Filler 1978 1 mins
Think once... think twice... think bike! A memorably two-fisted public information filler.
Play Safe - Frisbee Play Safe - Frisbee
Public Information Filler 1978 1 mins
Notorious British safety film in which young Jimmy makes the fatal mistake of trying to retrieve his Frisbee.
An Ordinary Life An Ordinary Life
1985 29 mins
“I’d much rather work at a computer than make wicker baskets” – disabled people hit the mainstream in 1980s Britain
The Good Housewife "In Her Kitchen" The Good Housewife "In Her Kitchen"
Public Information Filler 1949 3 mins
Short public information film showing housewives' efficient and hygienic methods of food storage
Aberdeen Oil Boom Aberdeen Oil Boom
Government sponsored film 1972 5 mins Location: Aberdeen
Aberdeen's local fishermen turn into wildcatting oilmen in a lively report from the early days of the North Sea oil boom.
Pedal Cyclists Pedal Cyclists
Public Information Filler 1947 2 mins
A witty, eccentric guide to safety on two wheels under the watchful eye of a pedalling angel.
So We're Different but ... So We're Different but ...
Documentary 1976 31 mins Location: Coventry
Teachers and pupils of 3 schools in Trafford, Stevenage and Coventry make the case for the acceptance of difference without discrimination.
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.
Dusty No. 6 : Dusty Says Keep Britain Tidy Dusty No. 6 : Dusty Says Keep Britain Tidy
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1978 0 mins
Dusty the kangaroo catches a shadowy figure in the act of dumping an old mattress in this campaigning cartoon
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.
The People at No. 19 The People at No. 19
Documentary drama 1949 18 mins
Reported cases of sexually transmitted disease took a sharp rise during and after WWII, as back on the home front people like Joan from number 19 were indulging in extra marital promiscuity ... An archive government warning film.
Only a Fool Breaks the Second Rule - Pile-up Only a Fool Breaks the Second Rule - Pile-up
Public Information Filler 1975 1 mins Silent
A mysterious stranger foreshadows Death, but is good enough to give a handy driving safety tip along the way
Children's Heroes: Alvin Stardust Children's Heroes: Alvin Stardust
Public Information Filler 1975 1 mins
Are you out of your tiny mind? Then let glam star Alvin Stardust be your lollypop idol
Matches Matches
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1973 1 mins
Home safety is child's play if you have the feline guardian angel of the 70s on hand
Apaches Apaches
Documentary 1977 27 mins
One of the most disturbing public safety films depicts six children being picked off one-by-one by deadly farming machinery.
Milton Keynes - A Village City Milton Keynes - A Village City
Cinemagazine 1973 8 mins Location: Milton Keynes
"The most exciting thing going on in Europe, if not the world": welcome to Milton Keynes circa 1973.
Demise of the Old Penny and Threepenny Bit Demise of the Old Penny and Threepenny Bit
Public Information Filler 1970 1 mins
Dig down the back of the sofa for your lost shrapnel: old coinage is phasing out as Britain prepares to go decimal.