Summary: An attempt to convey, by film of war industries and armament, an impression of Britain's armed might, four years after the decision (acted on "reluctantly but firmly") to rearm in order that "force, if used, should fail as it has failed before to jeopardise the rights of the free peoples of the British Empire."
Description: To the accompaniment of a commentary of grandiose claims (British aircraft: "speed and power unchallengeable") and metaphor (guns are "the steel mouthpieces of determination" with shells as "words"), the film includes shots of the production of guns, shells, tanks, aircraft, ships, torpedoes and gasmasks; a sequence including comment on "the value of passive defence" shows barrage balloons, camouflage netting and defensive arming of merchant ships; test drives of tanks and test firing of guns illustrates claim that quality is not sacrificed in mass production ("that is not Britain's way"); finally Spitfires and Lysanders visually accompany playing of 'Rule Britannia' and a reminder (after events "in recent months") that "Britain always wins the last battle."
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:Yes
Object_Number:COI 129
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:
Featured Period:1939-1945
Production Date:1940-05
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
British Pictorial Productions, London (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: aircraft, British - combat: Supermarine Spitfire (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Westland Lysander (object name)
industry, British - munitions (object name)
industry, British - vehicles (object name)
propaganda, British - inspirational (object name)
GB, England (geography)
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: 921 ft; Running time: 10 mins
