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The GPO Film Unit: 1939
 

Humphrey Jennings' Spare Time, The Islanders... and the start of WWII

Main image of The GPO Film Unit: 1939

Films produced by the GPO Film Unit in 1939 include:

A.R.P. Birmingham. Gloucester Street Experiment.
Film showing reinforced basements before and after test explosions.

A.R.P. Liverpool. South Chester Street Experiment.
Experimental demolition of a house in order to assess types of emergency exits.

A.R.P. Northampton. Shelter Test 20-3-39.
Film showing reinforced basements before and after test explosions.

At the Third Stroke
Advertising film for the speaking clock.

The City - A Film Talk by Sir Charles Bressey
A lecture illustrating the purpose of the Bressey Report and explaining the need for its adoption.

Do It Now
Amended and retitled version of If War Should Come (see below), reissued after war was formally declared.

Health of a Nation
Documentary on the (poor) health of the nation.

If War Should Come
Information film on war time domestic safety precautions, completed before hostilities had been declared.

The Islanders
How Post Office communications enable the islanders off the north-west coast of Scotland to continue their existence.

Men in Danger
A survey of working conditions in English mines and factories.

A Midsummer Day's Work
An underground telephone cable is laid in the Chilterns from Amersham to Aylesbury.

Nine For Six
About boys sending a telegram.

Oh Whiskers
Live action and animated toys used to illustrate the importance of cleanliness and eating good food.

Postal Special
A shortened version of the GPO classic Night Mail (1936).

Spare Time
A survey of the ways in which working people in England spent their spare time, including hobbies, dancing, card-playing and participation in group activities.

S.S. Ionian
A voyage through the Mediterranean, with special emphasis on Royal Navy ships in the sea.

War Library Items 1, 2 and 3
Three-part cinemagazine, covering the work of enumerators during the national registration of September 1939, hospital preparations to receive air-raid casualties, and the work of the fire service.

Related Films and TV programmes

Thumbnail image of City, The (1939)

City, The (1939)

Presentation of an ambitious plan for traffic development

Thumbnail image of First Days, The (1939)

First Days, The (1939)

Documentary about London in the first days of World War II

Thumbnail image of If War Should Come (1939)

If War Should Come (1939)

Public information film about safety precautions in the event of war

Thumbnail image of Islanders, The (1939)

Islanders, The (1939)

The lives of Scottish islanders... with a little help from the GPO

Thumbnail image of Midsummer Day's Work, A (1939)

Midsummer Day's Work, A (1939)

Lyrical documentary about underground cable-laying

Thumbnail image of SS Ionian (1939)

SS Ionian (1939)

A study of Royal Navy ships patrolling the Mediterranean

Thumbnail image of Spare Time (1939)

Spare Time (1939)

Early Humphrey Jennings documentary about British workers and their leisure

Thumbnail image of War Library Items 1, 2 and 3 (1939)

War Library Items 1, 2 and 3 (1939)

Cinemagazine with three stories from the early days of WWII

Related Collections

Thumbnail image of The GPO Film Unit: 1933

The GPO Film Unit: 1933

The GPO Film Unit's first year, including Cable Ship and The Coming of the Dial

Thumbnail image of The GPO Film Unit: 1934

The GPO Film Unit: 1934

Granton Trawler, Pett and Pott, Song of Ceylon and others

Thumbnail image of The GPO Film Unit: 1935

The GPO Film Unit: 1935

Coal Face, A Colour Box and the epic BBC - The Voice of Britain

Thumbnail image of The GPO Film Unit: 1936

The GPO Film Unit: 1936

The year of Night Mail - and also the camp classic The Fairy of the Phone

Thumbnail image of The GPO Film Unit: 1937

The GPO Film Unit: 1937

Len Lye's heyday, plus J.B. Priestley on the communications revolution

Thumbnail image of The GPO Film Unit: 1938

The GPO Film Unit: 1938

The year of North Sea, plus animated classics by McLaren and Reiniger

Thumbnail image of The GPO Film Unit: 1940

The GPO Film Unit: 1940

The final year, before it was taken over by the Ministry of Information

Related People and Organisations

Thumbnail image of GPO Film Unit (1933-1940)

GPO Film Unit (1933-1940)

Film Unit