Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
Description: I. 'BURMA - WILD ELEPHANTS TAMED.' Wild Indian elephants are shown in their natural habitat. Burmese woodsmen use tame elephants to herd them into captivity. Film footage shows the capture and training of the reluctant elephants.
II. 'CLOTHING FOR WAR AND PEACE.' Panoramic footage shows the ruins of a textile factory apparently hit by a German "rocket bomb". The speed in which the factory was relocated and returned to production is stressed by the commentary. Interior footage taken in the relocated factory shows female factory workers using Singer sewing machines. Male factory workers stand at tracing tables, chalking cutting patterns onto cloth. A male factory worker uses an electric saw to cut cloth patterns. British servicemen try on civilian suits and coats at a demobilisation centre. An unidentified female commentator takes the viewer through series of seaside fashion shots showing latest female swimwear, beach accessories and sandals (Australia ?).
III. 'PACIFIC NEW GUINEA TODAY.' New Guinean natives use rafts to return to their village following the withdrawal of Japanese forces from the area. Australian New Guinea Administration Unit (ANGAU) officials oversee restoration and disease control work at a New Guinean village. New Guinean natives cut Kunai grass (elephant grass) by hand, others spray the area with DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) as a precaution against malaria. New Guinean children run to their restored schoolhouse. Interior footage show a village court in session with the ANGAU Administrator acting as the presiding officer. An ANGAU non-commissioned officer uses a blackboard to instruct New Guinean medical orderlies in basic human anatomy. Interior views of the village hospital follow.
Production Details: Ministry of Information, Middle East (Production sponsor)
War Pictorial News (Production company)
Martin, Charles (Production individual)
Redway, John (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Australian Army, Australian New Guinea Administration Unit (regiment/service)
Keywords: animals, mammals: elephant (object name)
industry, British - clothing (object name)
society, British - fashion (object name)
demobilisation, British (object name)
administration, Australian - overseas (object name)
reconstruction, New Guinean (object name)
Burma (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: Arabic
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 797 ft; Running time: 9 mins
