Coi Collection: Vol 1 - Police and Thieves

Synopsis
The first volume in a series of DVD compilations of films made by the Central Office of Information. Established in 1946, the Central Office of Information (COI) was a successor to the wartime Ministry of Information and was responsible for producing thousands of films which celebrated Britain, its people and their achievements. With the majority of them previously unseen on DVD, these films provide a fascinating and often poignant record of British life in a seemingly more innocent age.

Volume 1 spans 1944 - 1977 and explores policing, crime, teenage delinquency and the justice system. A variety of styles and genres - including story documentary, public information shorts and cinemagazines - were employed to deliver crime prevention messages and bolster recruitment.

Children on Trial (1946),

The first film is a moving 60-minute drama from 1946 about approved schools entitled CHILDREN ON TRIAL. The other titles are: CHILDREN OF THE CITY (1944), PROBATION OFFICER (1950), YOUTH CLUB (1954), A CHANCE FOR BRIAN (1977); FOUR MEN IN PRISON (1950), HELP YOURSELF (1950), TRANSATLANTIC TELEVIEW 26: MAN ON THE BEAT (1956), BRITISH POLICEMAN (1959), UNIT BEAT POLICING (1968), ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN (1973), BICYCLE THEFTS (1974), SNATCH OF THE DAY(1975) and CHALLENGE FOR A LIFETIME a Lifetime (1975).

This double disc DVD is accompanied by a 25-page booklet providing comprehensive film notes from academics and film historians.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Year of release
2010
Notes
Many of the films are available free online viewing via the National Archives’ website http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/
Subjects
Social Studies; History
Keywords
archive; crime; juvenile offenders; police; social history; public information films

Online availability

URI
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/
Price
free
Delivery
Streamed

Distribution Formats

Type
DVD
Format
Region 2 PAL
Price
£19.99
Availability
Sale
Duration/Size
296 minutes
Year
2010

Production Company

Name

Central Office of Information

Distributor

Name

BFI Video

Email
video.films@bfi.org.uk
Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7957 8957
Fax
020 7957 8968
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
Name

National Archives

Web
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk External site opens in new window
 

Available from retail outlets

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