We use cookies on this website.
By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings,
you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy
and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Summary: Laurence Olivier reads extracts from patriotic and inspirational prose and poetry against an illustrative montage of film.
Description: Camden's "Britannia" (title page) against views of British countryside - Milton's "Areopagitica" (Westminster Abbey bust) against RAF Cadets and a Hurricane fighter, and some film of bizarre Nazi leaders and ceremony - Blake's "Jerusalem" (birthplace plaque) against evacuees leaving London and playing in the country - Browning's "Home-thoughts from the sea" (page of book) against seascapes, Navy flag ceremonies, Nelson, and Gibraltar - Kipling's "The Beginnings" (Kipling's Tomb) against Blitz damage and an ARP funeral - Churchill's "Never Surrender" 4 June 1940 speech (Churchill inspecting troops) against St. Paul's Cathedral framed by wrecked house, Empire troops, and Parliament Square statue of Lincoln - Lincoln's Gettysburg Address against more film of Parliament Square and Cruiser tanks. Film ends with shots of servicemen and women in London.
Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
Crown Film Unit (Production company)
Jennings, Humphrey (Production individual)
Dalrymple, Ian Murray1903-08-261989-03-28 (Production individual)
Olivier, Laurence19071989British actor; Laurence Kerr, preferred form Laurence Olivier. (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Churchill, Winston Leonard Spencer (person)
British Army (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force (regiment/service)
Royal Navy (regiment/service)
Air Raid Precautions (ARP) (regiment/service)
Keywords: aircraft, British - combat: Hawker Hurricane (object name)
armour, British - tank: Cruiser (object name)
arts, British - literature: Blake, William & Jerusalem (object name)
arts, British - literature: Browning, Robert & Home-thoughts from the Sea (object name)
arts, British - literature: Camden, William & Britannia (object name)
arts, British - literature: Kipling, Rudyard & The Beginnings (object name)
arts, British - literature: Milton, John & Aeropagitica (object name)
arts, United States - literature: Lincoln, Abraham & Gettysburg Address (object name)
ceremonies, British - display: military parade (object name)
ceremonies, British - event-related: funeral of ARP warden (object name)
destruction, British military - area: bomb (object name)
propaganda, British - inspirational (object name)
society, British - precautionary: evacuees (object name)
GB, England & London, EC <Saint Paul's Cathedral> (geography)
GB, England & London, SW <Parliament Square> (geography)
GB, England & London, SW <Westminster Abbey> (geography)
Gibraltar (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 703 ft; Running time: 8 mins
