Summary: Propaganda film urging potential recruits to volunteer for work in the mines, and encouraging domestic economy in the use of coal.
Description: "Coal is a vital munition of total war." The coal face thus becomes an underground front. Movietone investigates measures taken to combat deficit expected in the winter of 1942/43. General scenes showing miners at work. Introduction of machinery has not obviated the necessity for much manual labour. "It looks hard work, and it is hard work. Men like this collier (manhandling large lumps of coal) have proved their sense of responsibility to our war effort." Increase in production from open cast mining. Measures to combat labour shortage: Army releases ex-miners; young men registering may choose to train for the mines in preference to the armed forces. The miners' environment has changed: terraces being replaced by modern semi-detached houses; pithead canteens provide hot food; example of colliery supplying "re-invigorating" sun-ray treatment; introduction of district production related bonuses. Major Lloyd George speaks: production, although increased, still lags behind consumption. Neither miner, manager or minister can rest content until the gap is closed. Coal is a vital strategic material and its proper use will remain of vital concern until the end of the war. "By economising on domestic consumption we can double the value of increased production."
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:Yes
Object_Number:COI 782
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:IWM
Featured Period:1939-1945
Production Date:1943
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
British Movietone News (Production company)
Sanger, Gerald (Production individual)
Whale, Peter (Production individual)
Mitchell, Leslie Scott Falconer1905-10-041985-11-23 (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: industry, British - primary: coal mining (object name)
propaganda, British - practical (object name)
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: 782 ft; Running time: 9 mins
