Tonic to the Nation - From Festival to Coronation

Synopsis

A compilation of four films, three of them commissioned for the Festival of Britain.
BRIEF CITY (d. Richard Massingham. COI, b&w, 1951) and LONDON IN FESTIVAL YEAR (COI, col, 1951) cover the capital’s contribution to the Festival of Britain with the main Festival site on the South Bank of the Thames. BRIEF CITY concentrates on design and architecture. Opens with a discussion between Sir Hugh Casson (the co-ordating architect) and Patrick O’Donovan on the derelict site after the Exhibition’s closure, the film flashed back to the Exhibition in full swing and the two act as commentators on a tour showing how choice of materials and colours, and style of building, helped to create the Exhibition’s unique atmosphere.
FAMILY PORTRAIT (COI, b&w, 1951, 25 min.) is the last film directed by Humphrey Jennings. Shows the British in everyday life, in the arts and in the sciences. Surveys the achievements of Shakespeare, Newton, Stephenson, Darwin, Rutherford, Whittle and others. He concludes that Britain must fit into the pattern of Europe, and of the communities across the Atlantic and in the South Seas, from whom Britain has received so much, they should be offered in return - tolerance, courage, faith and the will to be free.
CHILDREN’S CORONATION (British Transport Films, b&w, 1953, 17 min.) Cine Gazette no. 13. As a result of collaboration between London Transport, British Railways and the LCC, 30,000 schoolchildren from London and the Home Counties were brought to the Victoria Embankment to witness the passing of the Queen’s procession on its way to the Abbey for the coronation.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. VHS. b&w/col. 68 min.

Year of production

1951-1953

Availability

Sale; 2001 sale £12.95 (inc VAT +p&p)

Subjects

History

Keywords

coronation; Festival of Britain; government information films

Credits

Director

Humphrey Jennings; Richard Massingham

Contributor

Hugh Casson; Patrick O’Donovan

Sections

Title

Brief City

Title

London in Festival year

Title

Family portrait

Title

Children’s coronation

Production Company

Name

British Transport Films

Notes

Some BTF films are distributed by Beulah.

Name

Central Office of Information

Phone

020 7928 2345

Fax

020 7928 5037

Address

Hercules Road
LONDON
SE1 7DU

Notes

Contact: Vince Sannessee

Sponsor

Name

Festival of Britain

Distributor

Name

Beulah

Web

http://www.eavb.co.uk External site opens in new window

Address

66 Rochester Way
Crowborough
TN6 2DU

Name

Moviemail

Web

https://www.simplyhe.com/3000-moviemail External site opens in new window

Phone

0844 848 2000

Address

Simply Home Entertainment
PO Box 7741
Ringwood
BH24 9FA
UK

Notes

As of December 2016 the Moviemail web presence is incorporated within the Simply Media website