This fascinating WWII British propaganda film directed by Montgomery Tully, BEHIND THE GUNS, provides a fascinating look at wartime production of guns, weapons, tanks, aircraft, and ships. The film begins with images of British troops at war, and then shows a huge metal foundry and steel plant where gigantic weapons of war are being cast including the massive guns for warships (7:45). Precision personnel weapons, Bren guns and rifles are shown being assembled at the 5:20 mark. A naval gun is test fired at the 8:40 mark, and artillery shells are seen being produced in an ammunition factory at 9 minutes. Armor plates and tanks are seen being built at the 10:50 mark, and tanks are tested at the 12:00 mark. (If you know what kind of tank these are we’d love to know — Cromwells? Matildas?) Airplanes are assembled at the 13:15 mark, and ships at the 15:30 mark. The film ends with a massive convoy of ships sailing ever onward (18:30) and the British people working together for victory, an army without a uniform is “standing behind the guns”.
The film whisks the audience through a tour of Britain’s wartime industries, sending a clear message that Britain’s war workers are an “army without uniform”. The fervent propaganda builds momentum as the film progresses. One wartime viewer commented that the film; “builds-up picture and music into a series of hammer blows”, making a direct link between the workers and the war front.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
