Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5942 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-04-28
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Black & White, Colour, Full Screen, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 720 minutes

Synopsis
LAND OF PROMISE is a diverse collection of documentary films that capture the zeitgeist of Britain during the Second World War. Some are classics, others are lesser-known but no less influential. Disc 1: INDUSTRIAL BRITAIN (1931, Robert Flaherty), SHIPYARD (1935, Paul Rotha), WORKERS AND JOBS (1935, Arthur Elton), HOUSING PROBLEMS (1935, Arthur Elton, Edgar Anstey), PEOPLE OF BRITAIN (1936, Paul Rotha), CHILDREN AT SCHOOL (1937, Basil Wright), FAREWELL TOPSAILS (1937, Humphrey Jennings), TODAY WE LIVE (1937, Ruby Grierson, Ralph Bond), EASTERN VALLEY (1937, Paul Rotha, Donald Alexander), PEOPLE OF BRITAIN (1936, Paul Rotha), IF WAR SHOULD COME (GPO, 1939)
Disc 2: BRITAIN AT BAY (1940, Harry Watt), TRANSFER OF SKILL (1940, Geoffrey Bell), THEY ALSO SERVE (1940, Ruby Grierson), TOMORROW IS THEIRS (1940, James Carr), WORDS FOR BATTLE (1941, Humphrey Jennings), ORDINARY PEOPLE (1941, Jack Lee, J.B. Holmes), FIVE AND UNDER (1941, Donald Alexander), NIGHT SHIFT (1942, J.D. Chambers), THE COUNTRYWOMAN (1942, John Page), SUMMER ON THE FARM (1943, Ralph Keene), LISTEN TO BRITAIN (1942, Humphrey Jennings, Stewart McAllister), BUILDERS (1942, Pat Jackson), WORDS AND ACTIONS (1943, Max Anderson), A DIARY FOR TIMOTHY (1946, Humphrey Jennings)
Disc 3: LAND OF PROMISE (1946, Paul Rotha), THE BALANCE (1946, Paul Rotha), WHAT A LIFE! (1947, Law), THE DIM LITTLE ISLAND (1948, Jennings), BRITAIN CAN MAKE IT NO 1 (1946, Francis Gysin), FENLANDS (1945, Ken Annakin), CHILDREN'S CHARTER (1945, Gerard Bryant), CHASING THE BLUES (1947, Chambers, Ellitt), COTTON COME BACK (1946, Donald Alexander), FIVE TOWNS (1947, Bishop)
Disc 4: A PLAN TO WORK ON (1948, Mander), MINING REVIEW 2ND YEAR NO 11 (1949, Pickering), FROM THE GROUND UP (1950, CFU), TRANSPORT (1950, Bradford), THE UNDEFEATED (1950, Dickson), FAMILY PORTRAIT (1950, Jennings).

Customer Reviews

Outstanding collection of British documentaries from the 1930s and 1940s
Land of Promise is an outstanding box set of 4 DVDs containing 40 key British documentaries made between 1930 and 1950. Presented chronologically, the films cover a broad range of social and industrial topics: problems faced by the working class; education and schools; industrialisation and skills; morale-boosting advice for Britons at war. Not all the films have a bold scope, for example Humphrey Jennings's 1937 colour short "Farewell Topsails" simply, and artistically, covers the last voyages of commercial sailing ships transporting extracted kaolin from Cornwall. Documentaries about British life during World War II are especially well represented. The accompanying 92 page booklet is well illustrated and informative.

In Land of Promise, the BFI have put together a treasure trove that will delight anyone interested in the history of film, documentaries or Britain.

An incredible release.
Only April and already we have THE finest DVD release of the year (although Fremantle's "Absolutely Everything" box comes close!). Would/could any company other than the BFI lavish this kind of care and attention on such a wide range of rarely seen films? Painfully nostalgic and of immense social importance the films in this set are a history lesson in a box and the superb content is matched only by the packaging and book that is included with the release. A sturdy box houses a fold out digipack (please use thin-paks next time BFI) and it's accompanying book. Don't be fooled by descriptions of this as a "booklet", it is a substantial piece in it's own right - something anyone interested in the subject would be happy to pay £5+ for on it's own and for what you get the set as a whole is bargain-priced even at full RRP. Even the mighty Criterion would struggle to match the quality and assurance of this staggering release. Highly recommended (as is their "Free Cinema" release).

A document of the past with lessons for the future
This is a stunning boxed set with the most incredible selection of films. Charting the influence of the British Documentary movement either side of the Second World War it covers the whole gamut of the British social experience. It is impossible to pick out individual highlights although for me Five Towns was a superb look at The Potteries as it was in 1947 whilst Children's Charter from 1945 outlines the Education Act of 1944. The education system detailed therein seems to be a lot better than today's piecemeal attempts! The fabulous book gives a wealth of background information about the films themselves and the people involved. It is quite simply perfect and I hope the BFI look in to their vaults to find more windows onto the past.