Summary: J B Priestley recalls the year 1940 by means of recorded speeches, newsreels, and personal recollections of statesmen, well known personalities and of himself.
Description: Part 1. INTO THE UNKNOWN. The 'phoney' war, the detached attitude of British public, government failure to respond to war situation, German invasion of Belgium and Luxembourg, the 'Norway Fiasco', Keys tells Chamberlain to "go", Winston Spencer Churchill becomes Prime Minister.
Part 2. THE GLARE AND THE SHOCK. May 1940. Rotterdam bombed, Dutch surrender, German advance through Ardennes; French retreat, British retreat from Dunkirk.
[INTERLUDE; CARELESS TALK COSTS LIVES. FOOD FLASH - PRESERVATION OF BREAD; FUEL ECONOMY; 5-INCHES OF WATER SUFFICIENT FOR BATH]
Part 3. THE DARK HORIZON. Defeat of France, Britain's workers respond with dedication, formation of Local Defence Volunteers, signing of German/French treaty; Britain awaits invasion.
[INTERLUDE: RECRUITS WANTED FOR CIVIL DEFENCE]
Part 4. THE THROBBING SKY. Superiority of British radar; Battle of Britain (air-to-air combat) evacuation of British children; fighter command nears breaking point.
[INTERLUDE: FOOD FLASH - EAT CARROTS; MAKE YOUR ANDERSON SHELTER MORE COMFORTABLE]
Part 5. THE PRIVATE VICTORY. Blitzkrieg of London; Roosevelt re-elected; 1940 ends with incendiary bombing of London.
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:No
Object_Number:MGH 206
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:
Production Date:1965
Production Country: GB
Production Details: BBC Television (Production company)
Essex, Tony (Production individual)
Priestley, John Boynton1894-09-131984-08-14British writer of plays and fiction. Priestley served during the First World War in the 10th battalion, the Duke of Wellington's Regiment but was wounded in 1916. His best-known play is An Inspector Calls (1946). (Production individual)
Priestley, John Boynton1894-09-131984-08-14British writer of plays and fiction. Priestley served during the First World War in the 10th battalion, the Duke of Wellington's Regiment but was wounded in 1916. His best-known play is An Inspector Calls (1946). (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:Churchill, Winston Leonard Spencer (person)
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (person)
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 10
Footage: 10,707 ft; Running time: 118 mins
