Series Histories - Detail
Topic
- Dates:
- 1958 - 1959
History
Topic was a magazine series of thirteen black and white films produced by the Central Office of Information (COI) on behalf of the Foreign Office, primarily for broadcast on television in the United States of America. It was roughly produced on a monthly basis and sent to British Information Services in New York which would then distribute the 16mm films throughout the USA. Topic was designed to ëintroduceí Americans to various aspects of British life, hence itís alternative title Meet the British. An American couple, Joan and Julius Evans presented most of the issues, exploring a variety of subjects, ranging from the ëtypical housewifeí to a Member of Parliament, as well as Oxford, Coventry and Northern Ireland. The series was contracted to two production companies, Anvil Films who made most of the series, and Independent Television News.
Provenance
The COI catalogue cards and viewing copies at BFI Archive Footage Sales, COI catalogues at the BFI National Archive, the production files (INF 6) and the monthly divisional reports of the COI (INF 8) at The National Archives and BFI National Archive database.
Where to see the film:
- BFI Archive Footage Sales
- BFI National Archive
