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MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Home Intelligence Special Report No. 11 .

12th March, 1942

M.O.I. Films .

1. The main conclusions to be drawn from the summaries of Films Correspondents' reports on W.R.N.S. , Special Dispatch , Hospital Nurse and Venture Adventure (and films previously reported on) are:-

2. W.R.N.S.

25 reports have been received , 5 of which do not go into details.

The majority reaction of Correspondents was one of very mild approval .

Their reactions may be classified as follows:-

The following points were commented on by a number of Correspondents:-

1. Not a true picture

(a) Too much teleprinting (2)

(b) Too good to be true (5)

“Surely the girls have uncongenial tasks as well.”

“‘I wonder’”, was a typical remark from the audience.”

“Setting was over-luxurious”.

(c) “Only part of the story” (2)

2. Recruiting value

Most correspondents assumed the film was recruiting propaganda.

4 Correspondents mention girls joining, or feeling like joining, as a result of the film.

Reasons for thinking it bad propaganda were:-

3. Marching

The marching was a point raised frequently (7)

5 were impressed by its smartness.

3 thought it “too wooden” - especially the officer, who made a Scottish audience laugh heartily.

2 thought there was too much marching.

4. Narrator's Voice

The narrator's voice was mentioned 6 times.

5 thought it “dreary - monotonous - depressing - palling”.

1 found it cheerful.

Its clarity was commented on, but the introduction of other voices was suggested.

5. Acting

4 Correspondents remarked on the acting. One each thought:-

6. Points praised

The smartness of the girls; the importance of the work; the sinking of the Bismarck.

7. The reactions of the audiences :

Most audiences were undemonstrative (10 out of 18 comments). At Cambridge, Exeter and Bristol there was some applause. In Bedford, “where films depicting life in the Services usually get a good hand, there was a smattering of clapping only”.

The above summary is based on reports from the following Correspondents:-

In addition, an Exeter Correspondent, representing a housewife, typist, journalist, Company Director and school teacher.

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3. SPECIAL DISPATCH

17 reports have been received , 6 of which do not go into details.

The majority reaction of Correspondents was one of approval .

Their reactions may be classified as follows:-

The following points were commented on by a number of Correspondents:-

1. Action (6)

“It was full of some sort of action and suspense.”

“It was exciting”.

2. Humour (4)

“We had a good laugh several times.”

“The leg-pulling shepherd introduced a bit of natural humour.”

3. Scenery (3)

“Changing landscape gave it interest.”

“Charming shots of English and Scottish scenery made it memorable.”

4. Propaganda (3)

Three Correspondents assumed the film was intended [Text Missing]LB propaganda; two of them could not see what its propaganda value could be. The third thought that on the whole “the film would have a definite appeal to a boy who is fond of the open air and motor cycling”.

5. Why not telephone ? (3)

Three Correspondents (one of whom refers to several of his business acquaintances wondering the same thing) could not understand why a man “should cycle 400 miles with a sheet of paper”. They all ask why a code message could not have been sent by telephone or telegram. “Supposing the motor cyclist had had an accident?”.

6. Audiences' reactions

Fourteen audiences were considered by Correspondents to have given the film a favourable reception.

Four of these audiences applauded. (Cambridge, Edinburgh 2, Partick) At the Playhouse, Edinburgh, it was the only film in the programme that was applauded.

At the Rosevale Cinema, Partick, the Manager said, “This is the best M.O.I. film to date. This is the first time I have been asked so many times if we are showing it, and at what times.”

The above summary is based on reports from the following Correspondents:-

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4. HOSPITAL NURSE

22 reports have been received , 8 of which do not go into details.

The majority reaction of Correspondents was one of very mild approval

Their reactions may be classified as follows:-

The following points were commented on by a number of Correspondents:-

1. Not a true picture

(a) Too patchy (4)

“Too short and superficial to capture interest.”

“Too much crowded into a short space...only a scanty insight given[Text Missing]

(b) Too easy (4)

“Signs of real work were conspicuous by their absence.”

“Complete absence of the real drudgery part of the training.”

(c) Not serious enough (6)

“Too glamorous.”

“Nobility of the profession was not brought out.”

(d) New rates of pay not given (2)

“Unfortunate that the new rates of pay current in the nursing world were not mentioned, as the public has the fixed conviction that nurses are very badly paid indeed.”

2. Recruiting Value

9 Correspondents assumed the film was recruiting propaganda.

2 Correspondents considered it bad or unconvincing propaganda.

2 Correspondents thought it good propaganda, the others were undecided, or sceptical.

Reason for thinking it bad propaganda were:-

3. Points praised .

Its instructiveness (“such a clear explanation of the training of nurses”). - The scene in the children's ward. - The natural setting. - Good casting.

4. Points disliked

The girl gazing at the statue at the end, (“ridiculous”, “sob-stuff”) (2). The unattractiveness of the matron and sisters.

5. Audiences' reactions

Most audiences were undemonstrative .

3 audiences applauded (Edinburgh, Leith, Bath).

7 audiences were interested or attentive.

Nothing conclusive is reported about the rest.

The above summary is based on reports from the following Correspondents:-

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5. VENTURE ADVENTURE .

23 reports have been received , 4 of whom did not go into details.

Majority reaction of Correspondents was one of approval .

Their reactions may be classified as follows:-

The following points were commented on by a number of Correspondents:-

1. Propaganda value

This was recognised and approved by 12 correspondents, one of whom assessed it as “100 per cent”.

(a) Appeal to youth in general (9)

“Likely to draw many boys to the A.T.C.”

“Country boy of 14 overhead saying with great definiteness- ‘the only decent picture in the show’.”

(b) Appeal to members of the A.T.C. (6)

“There were many A.T.C. members in the audience and they obviously enjoyed it.”

(c) Reassuring to parents (3)

“A good impression was undoubtedly made which had a great appeal to parents, as was evident by remarks.”

2. Too rosy a picture (4)

“Well I'm in the A.T.C. and I've never seen anything like this.”

“I wish we had all that stuff in our corps, especially the Link equipment.”

“Did not show the ‘sticky’ hard work side”.

3. Points specially liked :

Good effect in connection with actual A.T.C. drives (3)

The phrase “best boys' club in the world”; and the emphasis on the social side and the forming of A.T.C. clubs was approved (2)

Interesting photography (2)

“The song was good.” (1)

“Quick moving without being jerky; natural acting; plenty of humour.” (1)

“A definite human touch.” (1)

Two Correspondents considered it one of the best M.O.I. films ever shown.

4. Audiences' reactions

18 Correspondents described a favourable reception on the part of audiences.

6 of these audiences applauded. (Cambridge, Dronfield, Glasgow, Govan, Dumfries).

3 of these audiences “laughed” or “laughed heartily”. (Cambridge, Worthing, Edinburgh).

9 of these audiences were described as “very interested”, “definitely alert”, “mildly enthusiastic”, “obviously attentive” etc. Lukewarm reactions were reported by only two Correspondents.

The above summary is based on reports from the following Correspondents:-

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