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Summary: "Incidents dealing with the German Occupation are re-enacted by the Channel Islanders themselves."
Description: Opens with a boat secretly launched to England: "tell them we're having a tough time but the German can't get us down" sets the theme for film. Islanders are shown coping with shortage of food and clothing, transport difficulties; resistance to Germans (listening to BBC, clandestine news sheets (GUNS Guernsey Underground News Service), GPO workers suppress informing letters); some impression of effects of occupation (German soldiers and SPG's; fortifications; talk of 'slave labour'; closed down and derelict greenhouses, shops). Last days of the occupation: increasing shortages; Germans steal food after second visit of Red Cross ship Vega. Liberation: Islanders celebrate, enjoy unaccustomed abundance of food and clothing, start up "normal life" again; Germans put to work clearing mines, wire etc - Russian workers receive 'Pravda'.
Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
Crown Film Unit (Production company)
Bryant, Gerard (Production individual)
Wright, Basil19071987 (Production individual)
Jones, Jonah (Production individual)
Jackson, Jocelyn (Production individual)
Pine, Diana (Production individual)
Darnton, Christian (Production individual)
Cameron, Ken (Production individual)
Mathieson, Muir (Production individual)
Buck, Dusty (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: administration, German - occupation (object name)
celebrations, British - liberation: Channel Islands (object name)
journalism and record, Russian - press: Pravda (object name)
prisoners of war, German - labour (object name)
propaganda, British - inspirational (object name)
reconstruction, British (object name)
ships, British civilian - assistance: Vega (object name)
society, British - history (object name)
GB, Channel Islands (geography)
Deprivation (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: 1450 ft; Running time: 16 mins
HD Media:Yes
Notes: Remarks: perhaps inevitably, the 'occupation' sequence is laboured, almost flat - 'liberation' is better. Vindictive commentary - eg, on Germans clearing barbed wire "no-one suggested giving them gloves."
Documentation/associated material: COI file - shotlist, script, music cue sheet
