THEY KEEP THE WHEELS TURNING [Main Title]

Log in to create clips, download free screeners and save clips/films in Collections. Click here to find out more.

  • Title: THEY KEEP THE WHEELS TURNING [Main Title]
  • Film Number: UKY 390
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: A film with the dual purpose of stressing the importance of repairing existing civilian vehicles (as a means of shielding new vehicle production for military priority) and showing the ability of women to taken on much of this sort of work.
  • Description: The film's structure reflects this duality: (after a good opening sequence on several types of vehicle moving) the first part tells of a man's old lorry breaking down, with an MoWT spokesman explaining the situation to him. In the second half, a short-staffed repair shop borrows workers from another shop, the manager is dismayed that they turn out to be women, but all goes well: the women are "trained and willing" (the commentary tells how women heavily outnumber men in some plants) etc. Film also contains a mild plea to skilled workers not to enlist in the forces.
  • Access Conditions: IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-09
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of War Transport (Production sponsor) Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) GB Screen Services (Production company) Searle, Francis A (Production individual) Dane, Eric (Production individual) Harvey, Walter (Production individual) Douglas, John O (Production individual) Mansell, Enid (Production individual) Goodwin, Harold B (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords: economics, British national - employment (object name) industry, British - general: repair shop (object name) propaganda (concept) (concept)
  • 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: 770 ft; Running time: 9 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Remarks: rather uninspired and uninspiring; very poor continuity, the two halves being completely un-linked.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    UKY 390

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
Register