Shadows of Progress: Documentary Film in Post-War Britain 1951-1977

Synopsis

This 4-disc set contains 32 films and brings together for the first time almost 14 hours of film material preserved in the BFI National Archive, telling the previously untold story of British documentary filmmaking through the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Britain emerged from the Second World War a changed country. In an era of inevitable and far-reaching change, the country’s documentary filmmakers set out to engage with the country’s people and places, values and industries in fresh, exciting ways. Out of the shadows cast by the celebrated documentarists of the wartime years, such as Humphrey Jennings and Paul Rotha, emerged the likes of John Krish, Eric Marquis and Derrick Knight, each of whom employed bold and distinctive new techniques in order to tackle an increasingly diverse array of subjects.

This collection redefines the filmmaking of a critical era of Britain’s history. These films and filmmakers have been unjustly overlooked and under-appreciated, yet the films presented here - commissioned by private industry, commercial sponsors, Government departments and independent charities - are every bit as inspired, ground-breaking and indispensable as anything produced by the Free Cinema or British Documentary Movements. Highlights include: TO BE WOMAN (1951) - an argument for equal pay looking at women’s place in society; THE ELEPHANT WILL NEVER FORGET (1953) - an emotive farewell to London’s last tram; the Oscar-winning THURSDAY’S CHILDREN (1954) - a gentle and considered look at educational provision for deaf children; PORTRAIT OF QUEENIE (1964) - a celebratory portrait of Queenie, blues singer and landlady of AN East London pub; TIME OUT OF MIND (1968), a startling, stylistic documentary about mental health; and THE SHADOW OF PROGRESS (1970) a multi-award-winning documentary about the environment. For a full list of titles included see
http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/info_17997.html

DVD extras include new filmed interviews with some of the directors, and a 100-page illustrated book containing new introductory essays, notes and recollections. Contributors include Lord David Puttnam and historian Dominic Sandbrook.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2010

Availability

Currently UNAVAILABLE

Notes

SHADOWS OF PROGRESS is the companion to the BFI’s previously released DVD LAND OF PROMISE; THE BRITISH DOCUMENTARY MOVEMENT1930-1950

Subjects

Film studies; History

Keywords

documentary films; history of Britain; history of the 20th century; social change; social history

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£34.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

830 minutes

Year

2010

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

Related

 

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