Power on the Land

About the film

Power on the Land demonstrates how advances in technology and machinery have helped modernise agriculture.

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Details

• Release year - 1943
• Director - Ralph Keene
• Production company - Raylton, Verity Films
• Cinematographer - Geoffrey Unsworth
• Composer - Hubert Clifford
• Narration - F. Grisewood
• Editor - Peter Tanner
• Sound recording - Al Rhind
• Musical director - Muir Mathieson
• Music played by - London Symphony Orchestra
• Running time (minutes) - 15 mins 07 secs

Original description

Mechanisation of agriculture

'British agriculture is the most mechanised in the world. Root crops are picked by machinery; machines reap, bind and thresh the grain; the new mechanised methods of planting and watering vegetables are contrasted with the old. Land is reclaimed by machinery to meet today's need for increased food production.'

(Films of Britain - British Council Film Department Catalogue - 1944)

Did you know?

• The combine harvester seen from 12:35 is a Massey-Harris No. 21, the first self-propelled, mass-produced combine harvester.
• The yellow tractor seen from 04:00 is a Caterpillar D2, produced from 1939-1957.
• The women seen planting vegetables throughout Power on the Land were likely Land Girls — women who were employed by farmers when the usual male workers were called up to fight in the war.

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