Health of a Nation

About the film

An overview of the free healthcare available for children, and the environmental improvements that led to increased public well-being in Britain.

Download this film

Details

• Release year - 1943
• Director - Lister Laurance
• Production company - Technique Films
• Screenplay - Stephen Clarkson
• Cinematographer - Raymond Elton
• Composer - David Moule Evans
• Narration - Frank Phillips
• Sound recording - Al Rhind
• Musical director - Muir Mathieson
• Unit Manager - William MacQuitty
• Music Played by - London Symphony Orchestra
• Unknown - Ronald H. Riley
• Running time (minutes) - 09 mins 46 secs

Original description

How Britain safeguards her people's health

A description of Britain's public health services. Pre-natal clinics, modern maternity hospitals, child-welfare centres, school medical services safeguard the health of the rising generation. Special measures are taken to combat industrial ill-health. The importance of environment is recognized [sic]; slums are replaced by modern housing estates.'

(Films of Britain - British Council Film Department Catalogue - 1946-47)

Did you know?

• The opening scene of men hammering is set outside 4 Great Malborough St, London, which is now a Starbucks coffee shop.
• Health of a Nation was made at the same time as The Second Freedom, and some of the same footage was accidentally used in both films. This was largely rectified, but the light therapy and housing estate scenes are nonetheless practically identical both films.
• Mention is made of the work of the National Trust in preserving green spaces for public benefit. The British Council had made a Technicolor film exclusively about the National Trust in 1941, entitled The People's Land.

All films are subject to the Creative Commons licence guidelines.

Learn more about how to use to the film archive.