Movietone’s War Time News - Reported by Leslie Mitchell: How They Came Back

Series

Series Name: British Movietone News

Issue

Issue No.

752

Date Released

1 Nov 1943

Date submitted

28 Oct 1943

Stories in this Issue:

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 2

Section Title

Movietone’s War Time News - Reported by Leslie Mitchell

Summary

MOVIETONE CARD TITLE: How They Came Back. DESCRIPTION: 1939 ... The first big prisoners exchange of the war has taken place in Gothenburg, Sweden. Some eight hundred Germans were handed over there (many more went home through Oran). Over five thousand British prisoners were being repatriated thanks to Sweden who played a vital part in organising the exchange. The "Empress of Russia" brought nearly four thousand men home and docked at Leith, where the Provost of Edinburgh welcomed them. More men arrived at Liverpool aboard the "Atlantis", amongst them a number of serious casualties. At a Convalescent Depot near London, some five hundred ex-prisoners enjoy their first real show for more than three years, Tommy Trinder being the star attraction. SHOTLIST: Cut story - Shot of marching feet, with ‘1939’ superimposed on same. Troops embarking for France. Ship pulling away from quay. Disembarking in France, various shots of wounded injured on battlefield, & Red Cross attending same. Shot of infantry making bayonet charge, some of these scenes are in the desert. Fade to British Tommy in prison camp, interior shot of several playing cards, others playing darts, the above is Library material. Fade to GS of "Empress of Russia" arriving at Gothenburg, also GS of "Atlantis", various shots of German repatriated prisoners marching along & up gangway & quay. Various shots of British repatriated POW washing in buckets on quay, also having haircut, & cleaning their boots. GS of Crown Princess of Sweden (Lord Louis’s sister), chatting to several of our men. GS of types including Aussies, Air Force, Army, Navy, various shots of groups. Various shots of crowds taken on board ship. GS of "Empress of Russia" arriving at Leith, tender pulling away from ship, crowded with troops. GS of Ensign with statue in background. CU Ship’s whistle blowing, tender pulling into quay, crowded with people cheering our boys, Scots band playing "Roll out the Barrel" (excellent track) British troops disembarking, various shots of crowd of same, GS of General Sir Ronald Adam reading the King’s message to our troops; Sir William Darling (Lord Provost of Edinburgh), speaks to troops, makes joke about being a Scotsman. Various shots of J Cotter moving amongst the troops asking them questions about their experiences in Germany etc. CU Darling. CU various types. Troops marching along quay. CU of one holding a Red Cross parcel. Pan of deck of ship, shows prisoners singing "Roll Out the Barrel" ending with three cheers. GS of "Atlantis" into camera, through mist of the Mersey, arriving at Liverpool. Ships whistles blowing, cheering etc. CU of Prisoners looking out of portholes, various shots. Passing ferry steamer. Decks crowded with repatriated prisoners. Prisoners disembarking, blind off first one being led by the Marquess of Normandy. Shots of others, then stretcher cases, limbless, then walking patients, various shots of same. GS of station, train at platform; pulling out, & out of camera, travelling shots from train of POW’s looking out of windows at English countryside. Interior shot at Kingston Hospital, shows Tommy Trinder cracking a few jokes, cut-ins of POW applauding, & finishing on them singing "Roll out the Barrel".

Keywords

Royalty; Politics and government; Buildings and structures; Mass media; Ships and boats; Music and dance; Entertainment and leisure; Health and medicine; Food and cooking; Women; Environment; Curiosities; Aristocracy; Aviation; Railways; Communications; Conferences; Ceremonies; Foreign aid; Prisoners of war; Local government; Navy; Animals; Performing arts; Military; Cameramen; Disabled persons; Newsreels

Locations

Liverpool; Leith

Footage sources

March of Time
British Paramount
Pathe
Sweden

Card file number

44211

Credits:

Camera: Graham T. Thompson
Camera: John W. Cotter
Commentator: Leslie Mitchell

Length of story (in feet)

610

Story extras:

Film clip

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