Mute colour film
shot by an amateur cinematographer of the construction of
prefabricated housing in post-war London. The film has inter-titles
throughout.
The film opens with
a shot of St Paul's Cathedral, followed by a sign at the base of
Nelson's Column reading 'The time of destruction is ended ... the era
of reconstruction begins. H.M. the King". Another sign reads
'Save for reconstruction'. The demolition of a bomb-damaged building.
Intertitles introduce the construction of Orlit Houses; a sign
on-site reads 'Ministry of Works. Experimental Permanent Houses.
Poplar Site'. The construction of the houses are shown from
constructing the concrete frames through to the finished dwellings. A
sign on-site reads 'Richard Costain Limited London SW1'. Mr George
Tomlinson and Mr Charles Key, the Minister of Works open the first
house in February 1946, watched by crowds of on-lookers. Detailed
shots of the interior of one of the houses.
The Film and Video
Archive of the Imperial War Museum was established in 1920, making it
one of the first film archives in the world. It holds some 120
million feet of film and 6,500 house of video tape. A large
proportion of material has been transferred to the Museum from the
armed Services and other public bodies as the Archive is the official
repository for these films.
More information
about this film can be found via the Film and Video section of the
Imperial War Museums on-line catalogue: www.iwmcollections.org.uk
Running time5mins
Matthew Nathan
camera-operator and editor
Original format:
16mm
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