MILLIONS LIKE US

UK, 1943, 103 minutes, Black and white.
Patricia Roc, Gordon Jackson, Moore Marriott, Eric Portman, Anne Crawford, Basil Radford, Naunton Wayne, Joy Shelton, Megs Jenkins.
Written and directed by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat.

Millions Like Us is a fine English film of 1943, a serious propaganda film - but aimed at the ordinary English citizen, the millions like the people in the film. It is a blend of humour, social observation, serious themes and encouragement for the war effort. It was written and directed by the team of Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat - soon to make such films as I See a Dark Stranger, Green for Danger, Captain Boycott as well as the later St Trinians films.

Patricia Roc is sympathetic in the central role and there is excellent support from Gordon Jackson, Anne Crawford, Eric Portman in typical roles. Megs Jenkins and other veterans of the English screen take character roles. The film creates an atmosphere of Britain before the war with the crowded holidays, the impact of the war, the preparations, the home guard, taking away signs for distances and directions in case of attack, the air raids, the work in the factories, the repercussions for ordinary people - and the deaths. It stands up well as entertainment after so many decades.

1.The war effort, 1943, British film contribution? Effect in its time? An entertainment after the event?

2.The black and white photography, the atmosphere of realism and naturalism? Preparation for the holidays in 1939, Eastgate and the crowded beaches, the voice-over commentary and its appreciation of the British way of life? Homes, the home guard, factories and work, the bombardments, the dormitories, the air base, the dance? The musical score - the Beethoven themes to `My Wife Won't Let Me'?

3.The title, the cast - and the millions in the cast like the audience?

4.The preparation for the holidays, the introduction to the family, the foibles of each, going to the boarding house, Eastgate and its crowds, the flirting, the dances, Mrs B. and her friendship? The talk of war - and the avoidance of the talk of war? The later return to Eastgate, Fred and Celia on their honeymoon, the contrast with the empty and mined beaches, the bombed buildings?

5.War and the effect on the ordinary family, the father in the home guard, the daughters joining up, the interviews, going to work in the factories, the allotting of tasks? Patriotism and the war effort?

6.Celia and her homesickness, arrival for work, the meeting with Gwen, Jennifer and her roommate, the boarding rooms, the different styles of the women?

7.The factory and the workplace, its detail, the collages of production? The women and their training, working the heavy machines? Interaction between themselves? Mr Forbes and his supervision and treatment of the women? The signals for the air raids, the music, the sirens, the bombardments and going to the shelters?

8.Forbes and Jennifer, the mutual taunting, Jennifer and her West End life, canteens, dresses and underwear - and the contrast with her roommate? Forbes and his seriousness? His carrying Jennifer to the shelter? Their ignoring each other at the dance? The offer to go to the pictures? On the hill and Forbes' picture of the two classes united during the war - but wondering about the separation after the war?

9.Celia and her work, friendship with Gwen, going to the dance, Fred and his group at the factory, the encounter, the dancing, her daydreaming at work, the phone calls, his not coming to the concert and her anger at the phone call, his arrival and her ignoring him, going to the pub, sorting things out, the proposal, preparations for the wedding - the coupons and the clothes, the wedding ceremony, the entertainment afterwards, the letter to her father, going on the honeymoon, at Eastgate, planning of the house - the news of Fred's death, her grief, going to the house - but strength for the future?

10.Dad at home, hard work, the dirty house? Phyl and her hard work, her friendships, flirting, going to the wedding? Elsie and the children, Tom at war?

11.The portrait of Gwen, university background, the story of the mines? The girls at work?

12.The family as typically British? Coping with the war?

13.The war efforts, the gathering of the road signs, the warnings at the station, rations etc?

14.The happiness and sadness - Celia and Gwen, the singing at the end - and the continued British hope?