ENGLAND AWAKE

This film is held by the BFI (ID: 21648).

Synopsis

PROPAGANDA. The film describes achievements in science, engineering and industry in Britain and her Empire.

RL.1 A reconstruction scene shows a man in nineteenth century costume telling a crowd that after they [the English] defeated Napoleon, they were promised new prosperity but this had not happened. This, he alleges, was the fault of the Duke of Wellington. The man is brought before the Duke who explains that officers have not forgotten their duty in peacetime. Reconstruction scenes show Faraday working on a steam locomotive, Brunel attending a board meeting at which his steamship invention is discussed. The type of sailing ship used by early pioneers is shown on high seas. The countries these pioneers reached are shown. Shots of the coast of Canada, snow covered forests, tree-felling, log cabins, sledge dogs, canoeing (732-827). Shots of the Australian Bush gold seekers (828-902). Shots of Table Mountain, African natives making pots, warriors in canoes, British explorers, the tomb of Rhodes (903-1066 ft).

RL.2 CU shots of the mosquito, and research workers at microscopes (1-30). In Africa, roads, railways and bridges are built. British justice is meted out. Railways are built in Canada linking Quebec and Vancouver. Trees are felled and sent down the river (176-250). The Australian bush is shown. Shot of noticeboard where gold was first discovered. The gold mines and the port of Sydney are shown (251-326). In India, passes are kept open and guarded against raiders. An ostrich farm in South Africa is shown. Dams are built on the River Nile and the annual flooding of the river banks is assured (428-453). British engineers are called to New York to drive a tunnel under the Hudson River. Shots of industry in Britain - textile weaving, steel works. Shipbuilding, mining, railways, steamers (1895 ft).

RL.3 A reconstruction scene in which the Duke of Wellington refers to World War I. Shots of soldiers marching to war. Cavalry, munitions factories, ships attacking at sea, cannon firing (1-158). Parts of the Empire are shown again. Canadian prairies, grain elevators (297), sheep shearing in Australia, New Zealand cattle, South African fruit and tobacco farms, gold mines, tea fields in India, cotton fields in Nigeria, cocoa plantation, cane sugar in the West Indies, rubber trees in Malaya (2400 ft).

RL.4 The "Duke of Wellington" says that men today must not lag behind pioneers of the past. Shots of British industry - coal mining power houses, generation of electricity, electric trains, pylons, factory. H.M.S. 'Nelson', ship-yards, `Empress of Britain', locomotives, combustion engines, motor cycles, motor cars, speed boats, sea-planes. The "Duke of Wellington" says that more achievements by Britain are yet to come. Final shots of the English countryside (3172 ft).

 

Titles

  • ENGLAND AWAKE
 

Technical Data

Year:
1932
Running Time:
36 minutes
Colour:
Black/White
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
Great Britain
Director
BUCHAN, John
Director
WOLFE, H. Bruce
Director
WOOLFE, H. Bruce
cast member
DAVIS, Gilbert
Production Company
British Instructional Films
 

Countries

 

Production Organisations