Title:WORKER AND WAR-FRONT MAGAZINE ISSUE NO 7 [Main Title]
Film Number:UKY 456
Other titles:
Summary: The seventh in a series of Ministry of Information "news magazine" compilations issued for screening in factory canteens etc.
Description: I. A light-hearted story, in which four workmen leave Euston to carry out an undisclosed job in the country. The job turns out to be the routine cleaning of statues (including Rodin's "Burghers of Calais") at Berkhamsted Castle, Hertfordshire. (The statues had been removed from London for safety during the Blitz.)
II. A National Production Contest is held among munitions factories to mark the anniversary of the Russian Revolution. The winner is a factory making AA guns, and the film explains the factory's good points: a joint committee of workers and managers; visits to other factories to pick up new ideas; good working conditions (day nurseries, barber visits factory); volunteer overtime on production bottlenecks etc. Closing shots of an AA gun of the type made by the factory on a convoy ship supposedly bound for Russia.
III. Explanation of a scheme worked out by agricultural workers in one area to cooperate in solving manpower or machinery problems. Animated hypothetical examples, and a dramatised case history.
Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
Paul Rotha Productions (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: agriculture, British - arable (object name)
arts, French - fine arts: Rodin & Burghers of Calais (object name)
economics, British national - employment (object name)
industry, British - general: National Production Contest (object name)
industry, British - guns: AA guns (object name)
industry, British - munitions (object name)
society, British - precautionary: removal of art treasures (object name)
GB, England & London, NW <Euston Station> (geography)
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England, UK (geography)
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: 1
Footage: 742 ft; Running time: 8 mins
