The GPO Film Unit was a subdivision of the UK General Post Office. The unit was established in 1933, taking on responsibilities of the Empire Marketing Board Film Unit. Headed by John Grierson, it was set up to produce sponsored documentary films mainly related to the activities of the GPO.
Among the films it produced were Harry Watt's and Basil Wright's Night Mail (1936), featuring music by Benjamin Britten and poetry by W. H. Auden, which is the best known. Directors who worked for the unit included Humphrey Jennings, Alberto Cavalcanti, Paul Rotha, Stuart Legg, Harry Watt, Basil Wright and a young Norman McLaren. Poet and memoirist Laurie Lee also worked as a scriptwriter in the unit from 1939–1940.
In 1940 the GPO Film Unit became the Crown Film Unit, under the control of the Ministry of Information.
In late 2008 the British Film Institute issued a first collection of selected films from the Unit. Titled Addressing the Nation, it comprises fifteen titles from the years 1933 to 1935, including Song of Ceylon. A second volume, We Live in Two Worlds was released in February 2009, with 22 films covering the period 1936 to 1938, and includes Night Mail. A third (and final) volume, If War Should Come, appeared in July 2009 and includes London Can Take It!
Filmography Year Title Director Notes 1940 Air Communique Ralph Elton Britain at Bay Written by J. B. Priestley The Front Line Harry Watt London Can Take It! Humphrey Jennings & Harry Watt Oscar-nominated for Best Short Subject 1941 Spring Offensive Humphrey Jennings War and Order Charles Hasse 1939 The City Ralph Elton Subtitle: "A Film Talk by Sir Charles Bressey" The First Days Pat Jackson, Humphrey Jennings & Harry Watt Forty Million People John Monck Narrated by Ralph Richardson The Islanders Maurice Harvey Love on the Wing Norman McLaren Animation Men of the Alps Alberto Cavalcanti A Midsummer Day's Work Alberto Cavalcanti Spare Time Humphrey Jennings Squadron 992 Harry Watt 1938 Four Barriers Alberto Cavalcanti Mony a Pickle Norman McLaren & Richard Massingham Animation N or NW Len Lye Comedy The H.P.O. – Heavenly Post Office Lotte Reiniger Animation North Sea Harry Watt 1937 Book Bargain Norman McLaren Job in a Million Evelyn Cherry The Line to Tschierva Hut Alberto Cavalcanti News for the Navy Norman McLaren Roadways William Coldstream and Stuart Legg Music by Ernst Hermann Meyer The Saving of Bill Blewitt Harry Watt Drama, starring Bill Blewitt as himself Trade Tattoo Len Lye Animation We Live in Two Worlds Alberto Cavalcanti Written by J. B. Priestley 1936 Message from Geneva Alberto Cavalcanti Night Mail Harry Watt & Basil Wright Written by W. H. Auden. Music by Benjamin Britten Rainbow Dance Len Lye Animation 1935 Air Post Geoffrey Clark Coal Face Alberto Cavalcanti Written by W. H. Auden. Music by Benjamin Britten A Colour Box Len Lye Animation The King's Stamp William Coldstream With Barnett Freedman 1934 Pett and Pott: A Fairy Story of the Suburbs Alberto Cavalcanti Comedy, starring J. M. Reeves, Marjorie Fone and June Godfrey Locomotives Humphrey Jennings Song of Ceylon Basil Wright The Story of the Wheel Humphrey Jennings
See also Edgar Anstey
References
Further reading Anthony, Scott and James G. Mansell. The Projection Of Britain: A History of the GPO Film Unit. London: British Film Institute, 2011 338p.
External links GPO Film Unit at the British Film Institute's Screenonline