ORZEL BIALY (part) [Main Title]

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  • Title: ORZEL BIALY (part) [Main Title]
  • Film Number: RMY 81
  • Other titles: THE WHITE EAGLE [Translation]
  • Summary: Last part of documentary shows the Poles in exile in Britain retaining their distinct political and cultural identity and continuing alongside Britain the military struggle against Germany.
  • Description: All Clear sign indicates a temporary halt in the Blitz, during which film studio has been bombed out. After experience of bombing, Warsaw and London are now "united by common faith". Remainder of film suggests readiness of Poles in Britain and in Poland to fight back. Polish Army in Scotland keeps guard and trains with infantry and Bren carriers; General Sikorski decorates a boy who lost his leg at Narvik and off-duty soldiers learn Scottish reels and teach the mazurka to the locals. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth are shown around a Polish camp by Sikorski; "reorganised and reequipped this is an army worth inspecting". Polish contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic is conveyed by views of the destroyers Blyskawica and Garland and anti-aircraft library sequence at sea. President Raczkiewicz and US Ambassador Biddle visit Polish submarine. "Like us, Poles are weary of just taking it"; white rats in the Polish Medical School in Edinburgh prompt commentary to remark that there are "always rats to be exterminated, all sorts of rats" while the bombing up of Polish-manned Wellingtons for a raid on Berlin clarifies this metaphor. Deep spiritual faith of Poles, seen saying prayers in Polish church in London, unites Poles in exile with those in Poland, seen listening (studio) secretly to a BBC broadcast by Alvar Lidell. Bomber crews are briefed. "Not only revenge and hatred in the hearts of pilots, they believe in the better world tomorrow. Democracy must be made a living thing." Pre-war mistakes of selfishness must not be repeated. Film ends rousingly, "as long as Poland is fighting, she cannot die", over Andrew and a piece of blossom heralding a new world.
  • Alternative Title: THE WHITE EAGLE [Translation]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: RMY 81
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: To be established
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1941
  • Production Country: GB Poland (Polish Government-in-Exile)
  • Production Details: Concanen (Production company) Cekalski, Eugene (Production individual) De Marney, Derrick1906-09-211978-02-18 (Production individual) Cooney, Cecil (Production individual) Jaszcz, Z (Production individual) Palmer, Ernest (Production individual) Plowman, George W (Production individual) Phelps, William A (Production individual) Watkins, A W (Production individual) Gielgud, Val Henry (Production individual) Grabowski, Z (Production individual) Lidell, Alvar1908-09-111981-01-07 (Production cast) Howard, Leslie (Production cast)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Biddle, Anthony Joseph Drexler Jr. (person) Elizabeth, Queen (person) George VI, King (person) Raczkiewicz, Władysław (person) Sikorski, Władysław (person) British Army, Polish personnel (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Polish personnel (regiment/service) Polish Navy, ORP Błyskawica (regiment/service) Polish Navy, ORP Garland (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: administration, Polish [Free Poles] - civilian (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Vickers Wellington & [Polish] (object name) armour, British - carrier: Bren & [Polish] (object name) arts, Polish - dance (object name) arts, Polish - ethnic (object name) ceremonies, Polish - event-related: investiture (object name) delegations, British international - state: George VI and Queen Elizabeth visit Polish troops (object name) delegations, Polish international - goodwill: President Raczkiewicz visits Polish submarine (object name) delegations, United States international - goodwill: Drexel Biddle visits Polish submarine (object name) destruction, British military - area: bomb (object name) operations, Polish air - preparation: bombing up (object name) operations, Polish air - routine (object name) operations, Polish air - sortie (object name) operations, Polish naval - sortie (object name) propaganda, British - inspirational: radio messages (object name) propaganda, Polish - inspirational (object name) ships, Polish naval - destroyer: Blyskawica (object name) ships, Polish naval - destroyer: Garland (object name) recreation, Polish military - dance (object name) refugees, Polish - relocation: Poles in exile, London (object name) religion, Christianity - ceremonial, Polish (object name) society, British - friendship (object name) society, Polish - domestic: Poles in exile, London (object name) society, Polish - friendship (object name) training, Polish military (object name) GB, England & London <Polish Embassy> (geography) GB, England & London, WC <Trafalgar Square> (geography) GB, Scotland & Edinburgh, Mloth <Polish Medical School> (geography) propaganda (concept)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: Polish Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 1056 ft; Running time: 12 mins
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    RMY 81

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