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."
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 Roscoe (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics:Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details:Footage: 1438 ft; Running time: 16 mins
