The General Post Office Film Unit Collection Vol.3 - If War Should Come [DVD]

This excellent collection of short films covers the years between 1939-41, and as the title on the cover suggests, this collection shows Britain preparing for war, and shows the lives of people during such times as the Blitz.
Details of how the country's infrastructure would cope, including the upholding of law and order in such terrible times is shown, along with food production and supply, with the lives of the islanders of Eriskey, Guernsey, and Inner Farne also covered, also, a film about the Merchant Ship the SS Ionian is shown, while back home, the Christmas of 1940 also features.
This is just a selection of the subjects covered here.

This is a 2-disc collection of 18 films, running times ranging from 6 to 24 minutes, featuring good picture and sound quality, with English subtitles.

Here is a list of the films with brief details (All films are in black and white, and are shot on 35mm film).

* DISC ONE:
The City - A Film Talk By Sir Charles Bressey (18 mins/1939).
The Islanders (21 mins/1939).
Spare Time (14 mins/1939).
A Midsummer Day's Work (12 mins/1939).
SS Ionian (20 mins/1939).
If War Should Come (9 mins/1939).
The First Days (22 mins/1939).
War Library Items 1, 2 and 3 (10 mins/1939).

* DISC TWO:
Squadron 992 (23 mins/1940).
La Cause Commune (11 mins/1940).
French Communique (16 mins/1940).
The Front Line (6 mins/1940).
Men Of The Lightship (24 mins/1940).
London Can Take It!/Britain Can Take It! (9/8 mins/1940).
Spring Offensive (19 mins/1940).
The Story Of An Air Communique (6 mins/1940).
War And Order (11 mins/1940).
Christmas Under Fire (9 mins/1941).

* SPECIAL FEATURES:
* Britain Can Take It! (alternative UK version of London can take it!).
* Interview With Pat Jackson.
* Superb 68-Page Booklet, Containing essays, Selected Biographies, and full details of each film.
* Dolby Digital mono sound.

The discs and Booklet are stored in a strong cardboard outer case.

I was fortunate to receive all three volumes in this series as an unexpected gift, and I must say all three are compulsive viewing. Very informative and well produced for the 1930's. Amongst the producers and camera operators is the highly respected John Grierson, who was way ahead of his time with his filming techniques!

With the 70th Anniversary of war being declared, a time when I was approaching my third birthday,this is a very timely issue. This covers the sort of world I grew up in, an era where you had to do something about things and not just wait for someone else to do them.
It shows the high artistic & technical level of these GPO films, catching the realism of people & situations.