Summary: Second World War British Ministry of Information newsreel trailer appealing for blood donors.
Description: The film opens with a brief montage of aircraft in flight, an explosion in the desert (?), a casualty being carried on a stretcher, followed the inside of a field hospital and an operation in progress in the hospital's operating theatre. The commentary states "the precious life of the soldier who lies here hangs in the balance. In the last war he would have died. Between the front line and the dressing station he would have lost too much blood, but in this war he can be saved". Close-up of the casualty receiving a blood transfusion and views of bottles of blood products. The commentary continues "blood taken from living donors in this country, people like you" with dark interior shots of a full cinema (mostly women). Shots of two young women donating blood with the reassuring commentary "it does not hurt, it does you no harm, but it may save the life of a man who is risking his life for you". Another shot of a crowded cinema auditorium. The commentary continues "perhaps the life of somebody you love", brief shots of marching soldiers, sailors boarding ship and RAF aircrew climbing in an aircraft. "Your blood is wanted to save these precious lives". Brief shot of a crowd outside a Blood Donation Enrolement Centre. The commentary urges the viewer to "Act now!" Close-up shots of the faces of two elderly men followed by a woman having an initial blood sample taken from her earlobe (?). The film ends with a shot of a convalescent airman on crutches who is recovering thanks to a blood donation and the appeal "Become a donor yourself and help to save a life" (film ends abruptly with no end caption).
Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
Ministry of Health (Production sponsor)
Film Traders (Production company)
Hollering, George (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
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: 130 ft; Running time: 1 min 20 seconds
