Summary: The story of a single night-shift at a factory producing guns for tanks (No 11 Royal Ordnance Factory, Newport, Wales ).
Description: Film is narrated by one of the 2000 girls (including some conscripts) employed. She explains the shift system (factory works two 10 hour shifts, leaving time for machine maintenance - each employee works 2 weeks days, 2 weeks nights) and the pay structure (the 4 workers employed on every pair of machines pool their wages, which are then shared equally). Film shows - clocking on - allocation of work - 'new girl' introduced to her machine - mechanic repairs fault - various processes in production - 1.00 am. dinner hour: canteen scenes, a girl plays the piano, people sing and dance; (Reel 2) one of the canteen staff sings a solo, continuing while clearing tables as others return to work - 4.00 am tea break. Completed gun moved on overhead crane, workers watch as it passes - clocking off (shots alternate with film of completed guns in racks) - factory awaits day shift.
Production Details: Ministry of Supply (Production sponsor)
Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
Paul Rotha Productions (Production company)
Chambers, Jack (Production individual)
Rotha, Paul19071984British documantary film maker (Production individual)
Calder-Marshall, Ara (Production individual)
Calder-Marshall, Ara (Production individual)
Peake, Bladon (Production individual)
Young, Harold (Production individual)
Bland, William S (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: economics, British national - employment: night shift working (object name)
industry, British - guns: tank guns (object name)
recreation, British civilian - casual (object name)
(concept)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 2
Footage: 1305 ft; Running time: 15 mins
