The Call for Arms
Encyclopedia
The Call for Arms is a 1940
British propaganda short film, directed by Brian Desmond Hurst
and starring Jean Gillie
and René Ray
. The film was commissioned by the Ministry of Information and was aimed at women, urging them to sign up for war work.
with "Your Country Needs You" on the cover, and says she doesn't think she'd be cut out for war work and doesn't like being made to feel guilty about not volunteering. Irene says she has been thinking about it. As they leave by the stage door, a woman faints on the pavement in front of them. A newspaper seller says that the woman has just finished a 12 hour shift in a munitions factory and is exhausted, and that such long hours are necessary because of the shortage of workers.
Irene is spurred to offer to work in munitions and is seen on her first shift being shown the ropes. When she gets home to the flat she shares with Joan, she immediately falls asleep. On her next shift she learns that a co-worker has just been given the news that her son is missing in action. As she comes off her shift, she finds Joan in the changing room, having just volunteered herself. An urgent message comes through that extra bullets are required. Rather than going home to sleep, Irene turns round and goes back to work with Joan.
1940 in film
The year 1940 in film involved some significant events, including the premieres of the Walt Disney classics Pinocchio and Fantasia.-Events:*February 7 - Walt Disney's animated film Pinocchio is released....
British propaganda short film, directed by Brian Desmond Hurst
Brian Desmond Hurst
thumb|right|200px|Portrait by [[Allan Warren]]Brian Desmond Hurst was a Belfast-born film director. Responsible for over 30 movies as director, Hurst was Ireland's most prolific movie director during the 20th century.-Early life:Hurst was born Hans Hurst in Ribble Street, East Belfast"". into a...
and starring Jean Gillie
Jean Gillie
Jean Gillie was an English film actress of the 1930s and 1940s. Gillie appeared in 20 British and two American films before her career was cut short by her early death.-Career:...
and René Ray
René Ray
René Ray, Countess of Midleton was a British film and stage actress of the 1930s and 1940s who appeared in over forty films....
. The film was commissioned by the Ministry of Information and was aimed at women, urging them to sign up for war work.
Synopsis
Chorus girls Irene and Joan are discussing the war in their dressing room. Joan flicks through a copy of Picture PostPicture Post
Picture Post was a prominent photojournalistic magazine published in the United Kingdom from 1938 to 1957. It is considered a pioneering example of photojournalism and was an immediate success, selling 1,700,000 copies a week after only two months...
with "Your Country Needs You" on the cover, and says she doesn't think she'd be cut out for war work and doesn't like being made to feel guilty about not volunteering. Irene says she has been thinking about it. As they leave by the stage door, a woman faints on the pavement in front of them. A newspaper seller says that the woman has just finished a 12 hour shift in a munitions factory and is exhausted, and that such long hours are necessary because of the shortage of workers.
Irene is spurred to offer to work in munitions and is seen on her first shift being shown the ropes. When she gets home to the flat she shares with Joan, she immediately falls asleep. On her next shift she learns that a co-worker has just been given the news that her son is missing in action. As she comes off her shift, she finds Joan in the changing room, having just volunteered herself. An urgent message comes through that extra bullets are required. Rather than going home to sleep, Irene turns round and goes back to work with Joan.
External links
- The Call for Arms at BFI Film & TV Database