Rentals
WWII at the Pictures
Once the cinemas were declared open for business, the film industry kept the reels turning, serving up a mixed diet of news, morale-boosting propaganda and uplifting entertainment.
Newsreels kept spirits up and relayed vital information, documentaries rigorously explored every aspect of life and work on the home front, and an array of animations and short films imparted practical tips and guidance. Feature films, meanwhile, offered equal parts inspiring wartime stories and escapist fantasy to bring relief from everyday trials. After the war, as memories of horror and grief receded, Britons could look back on their bravery and stoicism with pride, and filmmakers and audiences alike feasted on the rich and resonant stories the war offered.
The Man in GreyThe Man in Grey
Melodrama 1943 116 minsDirector: Leslie Arliss
James Mason, Margaret Lockwood and Stewart Granger star in the first of the fantastically successful Gainsborough melodramas.
Waterloo RoadWaterloo Road
War 1945 76 minsDirector: Sidney Gilliat
John Mills is the soldier who goes AWOL upon hearing of his wife’s affair, returning home to confront Stewart Granger’s home-wrecking spiv.
Friend or FoeFriend or Foe
Children's 1981 70 minsDirector: John Krish
Two evacuee boys from London sent to live on a farm face a tough decision when a German plane is shot down.
Millions Like UsMillions Like Us
War 1943 103 minsDirector: Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat
The finest example of British wartime fictional propaganda follows a group of women who take on factory work to support the war effort.
Warn That ManWarn That Man
War 1943 82 minsDirector: Lawrence Huntington
Nazi agents are pitted against a gang of plucky Brits in this exciting comedy-thriller set in a country house where danger awaits a visiting VIP.
Piccadilly IncidentPiccadilly Incident
Melodrama 1946 99 minsDirector: Herbert Wilcox
Romance blossoms during an air raid in this classic weepie which enacts a tale of wartime love and loss guaranteed to pluck at the heartstrings.
The Captive HeartThe Captive Heart
War 1946 100 minsDirector: Basil Dearden
A realistic recreation of life as a prisoner of war in Germany lends credence to this moving account of wartime survival against the odds.
Thursday's ChildThursday's Child
Drama 1943 79 minsDirector: Rodney Ackland
Sally Ann Howes plays the 12-year-old spotted by a casting director, setting her on the way to stardom.
Another Time, Another PlaceAnother Time, Another Place
Drama 1983 101 minsDirector: Michael Radford
Michael Radford (Il Postino) directs this war-time drama set in Scotland. The passions of a young housewife are aroused by the arrival of an Italian POW.
No Hard FeelingsNo Hard Feelings
War 1974 55 minsDirector: Alan Parker
Early directing credit for Alan Parker offering an unsentimental view of wartime London through the eyes of a troubled young man.
The Triple EchoThe Triple Echo
War 1973 93 minsDirector: Michael Apted
Oliver Reed and Glenda Jackson star in the rarely seen drama about an AWOL soldier who disguises as a woman to avoid capture.
Law and DisorderLaw and Disorder
Legal and Courtroom drama 1940 74 minsDirector: David MacDonald
Alastair Sim is in splendid form as a staid, slightly seedy solicitor in this cheerfully patriotic war-time espionage comedy.
DemobbedDemobbed
Comedy 1944 94 minsDirector: John E. Blakeley
Nat Jackley and Norman Evans offer marvellous music hall mayhem in this offbeat feature from the heyday of variety.
The Man at the GateThe Man at the Gate
War 1941 48 minsDirector: Norman Walker
Henry Foley gave up fishing when his two sons were lost at sea. But when war breaks out, he joins a lifeboat crew, to his wife’s dismay.
Mrs Pym of Scotland YardMrs Pym of Scotland Yard
Detective drama 1939 64 minsDirector: Fred Elles
A spate of deaths among visitors to a medium requires the special talents of undercover detective Mrs Pym.
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