The Answer

About the film

A series of short vignettes depicts how the people working in different industries across Britain, from coal mining to shipbuilding, continue to operate full-steam ahead. Designed to showcase the defiant strength and unity of the people supporting the war effort from home.

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Details

• Release year - 1940
• Director - Alex Bryce
• Production company - Spectator
• Cinematographers - C. Hornby, W. Luff
• Composer - C. Ridley
• Editor - N. Wiggins
• Sound recording - W.S. Bland
• Running time (minutes) - 09 mins 23 secs

Original description

Britain's Check to the German Drive for World Domination

'The German march across Europe is halted at the English Channel. The marching songs of slavery are drowned by the songs of a free people, united against aggression. The regions of Britain are seen in panorama. In East Anglia the farmworker breaks new ground for food production. In Yorkshire the steelworkers increase their output of molten metal. The mineworkers of South Wales labour to produce more coal. The shipyard men of Northern Ireland work day and night to build ships for Britain, and the fishermen of Cornwall and the shepherds of Scotland are making valuable additions to the Nation's food supply. All are united behind their King in the Freeman's reply to Nazi tyranny.'

(Films of Britain - British Council Film Department Catalogue - 1941)

Did you know?

• J.B. Priestley gave advice during the early stages of The Answer's production.
• The Ministry of Information requested that the film should be withdrawn as it was considered too direct propaganda, and that overseas audiences would have trouble following it. However, it had already been shipped across the colonies and ended up being one of the most popular of the British Council's films - both in the UK and overseas.
• The film was distributed along with song sheets so that the audience might join in. For overseas audiences, descriptive subtitles were added to each sequence

All films are subject to the Creative Commons licence guidelines.

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