They Live Again

About the film

A miner with an injured spine is treated in a hospital before being sent to a rehabilitation centre to make a full recovery.

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Details

• Release year - 1944
• Director - A. Reginald Dobson
• Production company - G.B. Instructional
• Screenplay - Mary Cathcart Borer
• Cinematographer - Frank North
• Composer - William Alwyn
• Running time (minutes) - 18 mins 19 secs

Original description

The rehabilitation of miners

'Depicts the service provided for injured miners at a well-known hospital and rehabilitation centre in the Midlands. All stages of the treatment of severely injured miners are shown, also the principles underlying rehabilitation.'

(Films of Britain - British Council Film Department Catalogue - 1947-50)

Did you know?

• They Live Again is a shortened version of another British Council film - Accident Service. Accident Service is a serious film; twice as long, without music, and aimed at a medically-educated audience, it focuses on the regime of physical rehabilitation. They Live Again covers this aspect more briefly and is lighter in tone, focussing more on the happiness of the injured miner, and the quality of services provided to aid his recovery. With a cheery musical soundtrack, this film was intended for more general distribution.
• The rehabilitation centre seen in the film is believed to the the Berry Hill Hall, near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. The building was used as a miner’s rehabilitation centre from 1924 to 1953.
• This film went over well in Cyprus. The British Council office in Larnaca reported in October 1945 that the film was, “Well liked because it is about people, and Cypriots respond sympathetically to scenes of other in distress. This showed how we can alleviate distress.”

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