Summary: British Army training film, later reworked as THE WAY AHEAD.
Description: The film takes five very different new recruits, with all their vocal concerns and grievances, and shows how an unexpectedly and at times self-effacingly concerned Army turns them into an efficient, well-motivated team. Domestic difficulties and problems of personal attitude are overcome, and by the film's close the five are able to score a tactical victory over a Home Guard unit in a training exercise and to laugh knowingly at the foolish heroics on display in a war-film at the local cinema (a self-mocking cameo performance by Robert Donat) before leaving to play their part in their country's war effort.
Production Details: Directorate of Army Kinematography (Production sponsor)
Army Kinematograph Service (Production company)
Reed, Carol (Production individual)
Dickinson, Thorold Barron (Production individual)
Pitt, Ray (Production individual)
Goddard, Roy (Production individual)
Ustinov, Peter Alexander1921-04-162004-03-28 (Production individual)
Ambler, Eric Clifford (Production individual)
Wilcox, John (Production individual)
Newbrook, Peter1920-06-29Family origin: Chester, GB (Production individual)
Warwick, Norman (Production individual)
Cox, John (Production individual)
Mills, Reggie (Production individual)
Broadhouse, Lawrence (Production individual)
Parker, Charlie (Production individual)
Johnstone, Joan (Production individual)
Rawsthorne, Alan1905-05-021971-07-24Obituary in The Times, 26 July 1971 p. 14. Papers held by the Royal Northern College of Music. (Production individual)
Addinsell, Richard (Production individual)
Laurie, John Emilius1892-08-121983-01-10Served European War, 1914–18 (despatches 5 times, DSO and bar, Chevalier Légion d'Honneur); commanded 6th (Morayshire) Bn Seaforth Highlanders, 1918–19, and 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders, 1934–38; Comdr, Tientsin Area, British Troops in China, 1939–40 (despatches); 157 Inf. Bde, France, 1940 (CBE); 52nd (Lowland) Div., 1941–42; Combined Operations Training Centre, Inveraray; retired 1945; Col, Seaforth Highlanders, 1947–57 (Production cast)
Miles, Bernard (Production cast)
Ustinov, Peter Alexander1921-04-162004-03-28 (Production cast)
Huntley, Raymond (Production cast)
Godfrey, Philip (Production cast)
Harrison, Kathleen (Production cast)
Johnson, Mike (Production cast)
Lieven, Albert (Production cast)
Slater, John (Production cast)
Keen, Geoffrey (Production cast)
Trevor, Austin (Production cast)
Fleming, Ian (Production cast)
Lee, Bernard (Production cast)
Ambler, Eric Clifford (Production cast)
Schofield, Johnnie (Production cast)
Donat, Robert (Production cast)
Rome, Stewart (Production cast)
Barnard, Ian (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Running time: 42 mins
