Summary: A short propaganda film, produced by the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Manchester, showing the bomb damage to the city of Manchester caused by the German air-raids of 22 and 23 December 1940, with particular emphasis on damage to Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS) buildings.
Description: The film is introduced by the title "The unique photographic record of the damage sustained by Manchester on the nights of December 22nd and 23rd 1940", followed by shots of damage to named buildings and areas of the city including a branch of Martin's Bank, Corporation Street, the Co-operative Union Building, the Co-operative Wholesale (CWS) Furnishing Block, Balloon Street, The Mitchell Hall, minor damage to the Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS) Central Premises in Corporation Street, panning shot across Piccadilly, Miller Street, Baxendales, St Mary's Gate at the bottom of Market Street, Victoria Arcade, Oldham Road Goods Station, The Coal Exchange, minor damage to The Shambles - including a shot of the exterior of "E. Kenyon - Wine and Spirit Merchants", The Falstaff Hotel, The Free Trade Hall, The Royal Exchange and the Volunteer Chapel of Manchester Cathedral. The commentary throughout emphasises that, despite the devastation, Manchester will carry on - "a storm of bombs reeks havoc in this proud city but they leave it a prouder city still", as well as the promise of rebuilding after the end of the war and noting the new kinship with bomb damaged Coventry. The film then shows attempts to clear the debris with shots of personnel from the Manchester City Council Works Department, ARP salvage teams, Fire Brigade personnel, unidentified Army personnel and the Pioneer corps at work. Also shown are a steam tractor from Collins Fair employed to help clear the rubble and a Ministry of Food mobile canteen donated by the people of Trinidad and Tobago. The American politician Wendell Willkie is seen visiting the damaged city escorted by the Lord Mayor and talking with a soldier. The film concludes with shots of CWS Fireman, the CWS Home Guard Unit, CWS staff (?) air-raid spotting from the roof of a CWS building(?) and CWS staff arriving for work (including a good shot of a conductress standing on the platform of her bus/tram).
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:No
Object_Number:MGH 2092
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:
Production Date:1941
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Co-operative Wholesale Society (Production sponsor)
Co-operative Wholesale Society, Publicity Department, Film Production Unit, Manchester (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Willkie, Wendell Lewis (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: 1
Footage: 977 ft; Running time: 10 mins
