This film is part of Free
Calling Blighty (Walsall)
War-weary servicemen far from home reconnect with relatives and friends in this touching collection of filmed messages
Overview
This touching collection of filmed messages from troops stationed in India would have played to packed houses back home - an emotional reunion of a kind for family, friends and lovers missing their distant loved ones. The Picture House, on Bridge Street in Walsall provided the venue for this sometimes stilted but always loving message home.
The filmed message format was briefly adopted by the Movietone and Pathe newsreels, and was repurposed by the Directorate for Army Welfare in India to boast morale and facilitate better communication with troops in the Far East. The men often didn't know one another and were brought together just to film their messages. The North West Film Archive's website has a database and more information on the Calling Blighty films.
Related
Female Bus Conductors Female Bus Conductors
News 1963 2 mins Location: Walsall
Walsall Corporation judge men to be more important at work.
Walsall Market Walsall Market
News 1973 6 mins Location: Walsall
The sights and sounds of Walsall Market
Walsall Coronation Celebrations, 12 May 1937 Walsall Coronation Celebrations, 12 May 1937
1937 8 mins Silent Location: Walsall
Revels in Walsall - processions and crowds on the streets of Walsall, and at the Coronation Sports Fete in Fellows Park.
His Home Town His Home Town
Non-Fiction 1927 1 mins Silent Location: Walsall
Author Jerome K. Jerome, one of Walsall's most famous sons, returns home for what may have been his last screen appearance.
Showgirls is a Western Showgirls is a Western
Short documentary 2025 2 mins
In this mini video essay, BFI contributor Maha Al-Badrawi explains why Paul Verhoeven's Showgirls is a rhinestoned, stilettoed Western. Contains spoilers!
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.