Summary:Illustration of the duties of a civil defence warden towards the local householders when a nuclear attack is expected.
Description:The film opens with a recreation of the attack on Hiroshima which includes some genuine footage of the devastation and victims. The commentary points out that with the much increased power of weapons, a positive approach to civil defence is vital "until such time as total nuclear disarmament provides the only real means of protecting the world against widespread destruction". There follows a film within a film format where a civil defence lecturer introduces and comments upon a film made to help wardens explain to their charges the dangers of heat, blast and radiation (something "they can't see, smell, hear or even understand"). In the film, Mr White, a warden in Nottingham, calls on Mrs Wells who is not interested, and then next door to Mrs Jameson who is keen to determine the best room in her small terraced house for their refuge - she favours "the parlour - it's got ever such a lovely view over the town". Mr White next visits the school and then the substantial residence of Mrs Richards to whom he explains the need for precautions against fire and the need to stay in the house rather than attempt to flee the fallout. A montage sequence follows of people asking awkward questions of the warden (how is the hardware merchant to supply all the primus stoves and batteries needed; will money be safe in the bank; are the vegetables contaminated etc). Mr White shows Mr and Mrs Jameson his own refuge room and points out the important features such as a good supply of water (the visitors don't have a bath but they should be able to find enough containers), a bucket if there isn't "a lavatory in the house", a box containing important papers (passport, medical cards), tinned food and well wrapped fresh vegetables. Mr White walks along the street past a terrace of houses with sandbagged and boarded windows, discussing with a worried man whether it will "really happen" (he doesn't think so but "you've got to be prepared"). Mr and Mrs Jameson ask about the fate of their dog and cat, and finally Mr White revisits Mr and Mrs Wells and forces then to face their responsibilities. Potentially distressing images of injuries at the start of the film from the Hiroshima aftermath - 31/08/21
Production Details:Scottish Home Department (Production sponsor)
Home Office (Production sponsor)
RHR Productions (Production Company)
Cobham, David (Production individual)
Riley, Ronald H (Production individual)
Villiers, David H (Production individual)
Cobham, David (Production individual)
Jessop, Peter (Production individual)
Barden, Michael (Production individual)
Cameron, Ken (Production individual)
McColm, Derek (Production individual)
Dayan, Michael Shah (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics:Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details:35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 3
Footage: 2784 ft; Running time: 31 mins
