FIRE OF LONDON [Main Title]

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  • Title: FIRE OF LONDON [Main Title]
  • Film Number: COI 233
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: The London 'Blitz' of 1940-1941 is evoked as a tribute to the Londoners and, indirectly, to the inhabitants of all bombed towns.
  • Description: The film opens with a number of images of London (famous sights; people) "but to Adolf Hitler, London meant none of these things: London meant only the greatest port in the world, a bomb-aimer's dream." Shots of a burning oil-depot imply the start of the raids; then the story of the great fire raid of December 29 1940 is related, accompanied by film of fires, fire-fighting, fire-service HQ, water-supply problems etc (including reconstructed material from FIRES WERE STARTED). In spite of the damage, Londoners are not cowed ('Business As Usual' signs, cheerful faces) and learn to live with the Blitz through new equipment (water tanks, AA defences) and plans (compulsory firewatching). May 1941 sees the last fire attack (sheltering in Underground; fires and fire-fighting): London was "saved by the people who live there: they have cause for pride... in adversity they were great."
  • Access Conditions:
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1945
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) Army Film Unit (Production individual) National Fire Service Film Unit (Production individual) Newsreel cameramen (Production individual) Loewe, Roland (Production individual) Tanner, Peter (Production individual) Frankel, Ben (Production individual) Mathieson, Muir (Production individual) Murrow, Edward Roscoe1908-04-251965-04-27US radio reporter and commentator: "Ed" (Production cast)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: National Fire Service (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: destruction, British - area: bomb (object name) equipment, British civilian - damage control: fire fighting (object name) propaganda, British - inspirational (object name) society, British - precautionary: firefighting (object name) London, England, UK (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: 2 Footage: 1438 ft; Running time: 16 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Summary: one of the series "shot in 16 languages for the liberated peoples of Europe". Credits: photographic credit reads "film shot by Allied Service Units"; film of the fire of December 29 was taken by cameramen of the newly-formed Army Film Unit. Credits also refer to "film shot by Newsreel cameramen". Remarks: a little uncomfortable, falling between the two stools picturing the whole Blitz or the single night, but quite good for all that.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    COI 233

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
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