WAR FRONT [Main Title]

How the magazine 'Illustrated' put together an issue on the war effort.

Film shows editor briefing his photographers, then follows them to their assignments (including some shots of darkrooms, editorial staff planning page-formats etc): these are to an aircraft factory (including roof spotters during an air raid), a fighter base (ground crews, Hurricanes scramble to beat off a strafing attack), a Home Guard unit (called out to capture pilot of shot down Bf 109). Civil Defence fire fighting, and a bomber base (a Hampden raid take off and return); also briefer coverage of mechanised army, women trained in use of stirrup pump, a convoy, and air raid shelter "fashions". Film follows magazine through censorship and publication and ends with a scene with Bernard Miles playing a sailor dissatisfied with the issue until he finds a spectacular picture of a battleship.

16mm