Listen to Britain

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Movie
Original title Listen to Britain
Country of production United Kingdom
original language English
Publishing year 1942
length 20 minutes
Rod
Director Humphrey Jennings
Stewart McAllister
script Humphrey Jennings
Stewart McAllister
production Ian Dalrymple
music Dora Wright
camera HE Fowle
Fred Gamage
cut Humphrey Jennings
Stewart McAllister
John Krish
occupation

Listen to Britain is a 1942 English documentary directed by Humphrey Jennings and Stewart McAllister, which was nominated for an Oscar in 1943 . It is known for its linear structure and the use of music to support the effect of the image.

Queen Elizabeth in coronation regalia
(painting by Sir Gerald Festus Kelly )

content

The film tries to give an impression of what life was like in the UK during World War II . Various aspects of civil life, the turbulence and deprivation caused by the war are shown without comment. Leonard Brockington speaks the foreword to the film. It is quoted from a famous poem from Great Britain that begins with the words: “I am a Canadian.” And ends with the words: “The trumpet call of freedom, the war song of a great people. The first sure notes of the march of victory, as you, and I, listen to Britain. "

Jennings uses the language of people who belong to different social classes as a stylistic device in his film; they can be heard at work or in their home, and symbolize the voice of the people. The filmmaker works primarily with various pieces of music that are intended to support the images shown. The war activities are also illustrated with music, which includes the singing of girls in a munitions factory. The juxtaposition of different people is subtle. The film works with comparisons. He contrasts the dancers in Blackpool with the Canadian soldiers, the children in the schoolyard with the workers in a factory, the canteen-goers with the concert-goers in the National Gallery. Workers in a concert, parliament building. Radio: London Calling, patriotic music, broadcasts in different languages. The chirping of birds in the forest at sunset or sunrise are juxtaposed with scenes from everyday life during the war and scenes from war events. These correlations form one of the film's central lessons. Every honest worker, like publicly celebrated artists, is worth his wages and is part of the community. A factory girl who sings and smiles is just as important as the pianist Myra Hess, who plays Mozart's piano concerto.

Jennings ignores a number of real problems, such as bombed houses, queuing for food, etc. Music is his tool to mask propaganda and allow the audience to express their own opinion. Jennings emphasizes class differences that are the reason why social change is sought. He shows how Queen Elizabeth of England enjoys the classical music performed by Myra Hess in a concert in the National Gallery of London. An extraordinary achievement lies in Jennings' subtle reflection on declaring propaganda as art.

The film ends with an aerial view of the British countryside and cumulus clouds in the sky.

Background and production

The documentation makes it clear that Jennings had dealt very intensively with noises and their influence on the effect of the image. Jennings worked with documentary filmmaker Stewart McAllister until his death.

The film is considered a masterpiece of sound mixing. With his different tones and music he gives Great Britain a face. He avoids commenting or telling a story. He creates an atmosphere by means of pictures and accompanying music that make the contradictions of a country at the time of war clear.

Myra Hess can be heard with Mozart's Concerto in G major, K. 453 . Other pieces of music: Roll out the Barrel , Home on the Range , T he Ash Grove , Sympathy , Hop Mother Annika , Calling all Workers (Marsch), Yes, My Darling Daughter , Round the Back of the Arches , sung by Flanagan & Allen, A Life on the Ocean Wave , Rule, Britannia! .

The film was made by Crown Film Unit , an organization within the Department of Information, during World War II to support the Allied war effort. The interior was shot at Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire , United Kingdom.

Listen to Britain was first shown in the United Kingdom in April 1942. In Finland it was shown for the first time on television on July 23, 2010 under the title Englannin sävel , the Swedish title is: Toner från England . In Portugal it ran on September 15, 2010. The Bulgarian title is: Слушайте Британия , the Brazilian O Homem Que Ouvia a Grã-Bretanha .

Award

The film was in 1943 in the category "Best Documentary" for an Oscar nomination, but the movies had to Midway , Kokoda Front Line! , Moscow Strikes Back and Prelude to War Defeated.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Humphrey Jennings and Third Cinema at The British Film Resource zenbullets.com (English).
  2. ↑ Jürgen Berger: Listen to Britain at gestaltung.hs-mannheim.de