Volunteer, The

Synopsis

Propaganda short feature film. Fred is an inept but willing dresser to a famous actor (Richardson), who makes himself up to play Othello. The news of the invasion of Poland comes in, and (in Othello costume) Richardson talks to Fred who is trying to decide which service to volunteer for; they both join the Fleet Air Arm, Fred as an engineer while Richardson becomes a pilot. Fred is wounded in action and awarded the DSM. The Othello scenes are incidental.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Film

Technical information

Black-and-white / Sound

Year of release

1943

Duration

44 mins; 3,964 feet

Credits

Director

Emeric Pressburger; Michael Powell

Producer

Emeric Pressburger; Michael Powell

Cinematographer

Fred Ford

Writer

Emeric Pressburger; Michael Powell

Music

Allan Gray

Art Direction

Alfred Junge

Contributor

Anna Neagle; Laurence Olivier

Cast

Ralph Richardson	Himself (Othello)
Pat McGrath	Fred

Additional Details

Production type

Other

Plays

Othello

Keywords

propaganda; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

General

In the film Fred visits Denham Studios and among the people he meets are Laurence Olivier and Anna Neagle.

Production Company

Name

Archers, The

Sponsor

Name

Ministry of Information

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7255 1444

Fax

020 7436 0165

Address

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