Collections Search | BFI | British Film Institute

Development Areas (Original title)
Date: 1947 (Copyright)

Country: United Kingdom



Shotlist: DOCUMENTARY. A survey of the depressed areas of the 1930s, concentrating on those in the N.E. of England. Rl.1 Industrial South Wales, N.E. England - the river Tyne, Durham and S.W. Scotland - the Clyde, Renfrew and Dunbarton. Map of Britain showing development areas. Coal in trucks, steel being made, docks, ships, whilst commentary gives production statistics on the coal, steel and shipping industries. The situation after World War I is explained. A map shows the unemployment areas. The N.E. area is taken as an example - shots of railway yards, steam engines, pits, factories and shipyards closed down, decaying tenement houses, families searching for coal on slag heaps, men standing idle on the streets. Depression also hits the United States - people in food queues, Franklin Roosevelt making his speech as elected President. Unemployed men standing on streets in Germany. Hitler is elected Chancellor. In England, during the 1930s hunger marches are held. The Jarrow petition marching to London. Closed-down factories and shipyards. Social services are set up - men playing dominoes at a club, mending shoes, looking after smallholds (935 ft). Rl.2 Stockton-on-Tees. The building where the first railway was planned. The Mayor and councillors meet with industrialists to persuade them to build new factories. Factories being built, men going back to work. World War II breaks out; men return to work in munitions factories. Aeroplanes and battleships. Workmen discuss whether a slump would follow World War II. In 1945, the Distribution of Industry Act became law. Westminster - commentary explains the powers given to the Board of Trade. The planning room at the Board of Trade. Licences are granted to industrialists to build where unemployed labour exists. New factories, some of which are designed to employ the war-disabled. Existing buildings are converted into factories. Munition factories are converted. Final shots of smoking factories, machines in use and men at work (1854 ft).

Subjects:
North East England, 1930s, Great depression, Unemployment, Industries, trades and crafts, Board of Trade

Series title:

Releases
Date: June 1947Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: not specifiedRuntime: 20 mins Length: 1832 Feet

Articles held in BFI Reuben Library (4)
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v14 n162 June 1947  Page: 87
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v14 n162 June 1947: no known title]Language: English

In: Kinematograph Weekly n2092 5 Jun 1947
Title: [Kinematograph Weekly - n2092 5 Jun 1947: no known title]Language: English

In: Today's Cinema v68 n5500 3 Jun 1947
Title: [Today's Cinema - v68 n5500 3 Jun 1947: no known title]Language: English

In:   Page: 118
Title: [ - : no known title]