Look at Life (film series)
| Look at Life | |
|---|---|
| Narrated by | Tim Turner and others |
Production company | |
Release date | 1959-1969 |
Running time | 8 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Look at Life was a regular British series of short documentary films of which over 500 were produced between 1959 and 1969 by the Special Features Division of the Rank Organisation for screening in their Odeon and Gaumont cinemas. The films always preceded the main feature film that was being shown in the cinema that week. It replaced the circuit’s newsreel, Universal News, which had become increasingly irrelevant in the face of more immediate news media, particularly on television with the launch of ITN on the Independent Television service, which began broadcasting in parts of the United Kingdom in 1955.[1]
Presentation
Produced on 35mm film and in Eastmancolor, these ten-minute 'featurettes' melded a light-hearted magazine format with a more in depth documentary approach and depicted aspects of life, mainly in Britain, but sometimes further afield. The films often depicted elements of the 'push button' or 'jet age', demonstrating advances in technology and a reflection on the changing tastes, fashions and trends representative of the so-called ‘swinging sixties' era, which were often portrayed in a glossy, vibrant and optimistic way. The films also reported on topical issues that were affecting modern day society such as road safety, civil defence and pollution, and often sought to explain the rapid changes that were taking place in the country in an entertaining and informative narrative. Look at Life also took its cameras abroad to focus on events and affairs within the Commonwealth and British colonies including Aden, Gibraltar and the ever diminishing British controlled areas of Africa. Look at Life cameras were also offered exclusive access behind the Iron Curtain to present life in the Eastern Bloc, particularly in East Berlin and the Soviet Union.
The films were generally narrated in the style typical of newsreel films with a principal voice-over while letting the images tell the story. The narration was generally spoken over the natural sounds of the subject being discussed such as motor traffic or the activities within a workplace and with musical accompaniment. People who were featured in the programmes were seldom heard to speak unless as background sound, their activities and interactions with others generally being commented upon by the narrator. Otherwise the subject of the film or clip would address the camera directly or perform in a given situation, both in a staged and a scripted manner whereby the narrator could often add a humorous or ironic comment in the context of the subject. On occasions an expert or professional in the field of the subject could be seen to present the film directly to camera and provide voiceovers. However, in the most part, the narration of the films was provided by well known celebrities and presenters of the time including Raymond Baxter, Eamonn Andrews, Wynford Vaughan-Thomas, and Sid James, but the majority of the films were narrated by actor Tim Turner. At the end of each film the caption "Take a Look at Life Again Soon" would appear on screen.
Reception
When the first issue of Look At Life, "Marrakesh" was released in March 1959, it was hailed in the trade journals as an "exciting venture in film journalism" and Rank announced this innovation would have "a more lasting impact than the present ephemeral newsreel content". Look at Life was a popular formula but did become rather frozen in time with its light-hearted presentation and jaunty theme tune and despite subtle changes to the opening titles, their graphics and the introduction of the Rank 'gong' logo at the beginning of later films. Television led audiences into a documentary world that had more grit and less glamour than the relative escapism of the cinema and by 1969 Rank could no longer ensure the survival of the series and the concept waned just as other newsreels and magazine films also available at that time, such as the Pathé Pictorial which was shown on the rival ABC cinema circuit, and as cinema audience continued to decline rapidly on the verge of the 1970s.[2]
Legacy
Over 500 episodes were produced altogether. Digitally restored from the original film, the Look at Life series is now licensed by ITV Studios Global Entertainment, previously known on screen as Granada Ventures and distributed by Network Distributing. Many of the films have not been seen in full since their original showing in the cinemas, although a number of films have been previously released on Super 8 and more recently on DVD in themed categories. These include Look at Life - Swingin' London, which explores elements of contemporary London life, work and traditions and Look at Life - On the Railways, which represented the great changes that were taking place to Britain's railways in the wake of the modernisation programme and the decline of steam. However Network has gradually released box sets of the films in volumes.
Volume 1 - "Transport" is a four disc compilation released in 2010 and contains 54 films on the theme of transport. Look at Life Volume 2 - "Military" was released in June 2011, while Volume 3 - "Science" was released in September 2011.
Two further volumes, Volume 4 - "Sport" and Volume 5 - "Cultural Heritage", were for release in August and November 2012 respectively. Volume 6 - "World Affairs" was released on 1 February 2013. On 10 August 2015, a seventh volume "Business and Industry" was released.
In November 2012, the series Britain on Film commissioned by BBC Scotland for broadcast on BBC Four began a twenty-part series providing an insight into life in Britain in the 1960s exclusively featuring footage from the Look at Life series. Distributed by ITN Source, a partly owned subsidiary of ITV Plc, each episode features a different aspect of British life and culture during the decade, including the changing role of women and how leisure time was spent including the rising popularity of overseas travel. It is presented with original commentary from the series with captions to provide the contemporary viewer with explanation.[3]
Currently Available on DVD
Volume 1: Transport
Disc One (1959–1960)
| Date of Feature | Title | Narrator | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1959 | Ticket to Tokyo | E.V.H. Emmett | Travelling with a Britannia Airline from London via Bombay to Tokyo to discover Japan and back via Hong Kong. |
| May 1959 | Letting off Steam | Tim Turner | Celebrating British Railways' change of technology with the phasing-out of coal-powered steam and their replacement with oil-powered and electrified trains and signalling to bring in the modern age of travel. |
| May 1959 | New Roads for Old | Tim Turner | The traffic crisis and a look at tomorrow's roads in the making including the London to Yorkshire motorway, Preston By-pass, Runcorn Bridge and works around London, including the gyratory system at Marble Arch, underpass at Hyde Park Corner, road widening at Elephant and Castle and the new Chiswick Flyover. |
| August 1959 | Flight on a Cushion | Peter Lamb, Christopher Cockerell, Tim Turner | The Chief Test Pilot of East Cowes-based Saunders Roe tells the story of a hovercraft from the moment it was invented, with the inventor Christopher Cockerell and the recording of the first cross Channel crossing on 25 July 1959. |
| August 1959 | Talking of Coaches | Tim Turner | Life from the back of a coach with a tour of Blackpool and Italy with young Eric. |
| October 1959 | Alpine Rescue | Tim Turner | A glimpse of the hazards faced by Swiss glacier pilots. |
| October 1959 | Shopping for a 'Queen' | Tim Turner | Just what it takes to replenish the Queen Elizabeth, the 83,000-ton liner before her next voyage. Food shopping and catering on a mammoth scale! |
| November 1959 | Sailing the Sky | Tim Turner | The grace and freedom of gliding and an interview with Britain's leading woman glider pilot, Ann Welch. Don't forget your sandwiches! |
| December 1959 | Driving Test | Tim Turner | Driving school tuition, including the innovative mock-up car with moving lights, cars for disabled people, the junior driver course at Grammar schools and the training of police drivers and London Bus drivers. Watch out for green Ford Cortinas! |
| January 1960 | Shape of a Ship | Tim Turner | Taking a look at the big new liners being built including the Canberra and how their shape is changing plus a review of the slump affecting cargo shipping and the exciting future of air freight. |
| February 1960 | Air Hostess | Tim Turner | Following the perceived glamorous life of 24-year-old airline hostess Pat Rossiter on her working day on an 11-hour flight to Rome and Benghazi |
| March 1960 | Taxi! Taxi!! | Tim Turner | Looking at the organisation behind London's taxis, their maintenance, regulation of meters, training for "The Knowledge" to picking up passengers and driver welfare. |
| April 1960 | All Through the Night | Tim Turner | Out on the trunk roads with the "artic" night lorries. It's a tough life for these "trunkers" |
Disc Two (1960–1963)
| Date of Feature | Title | Narrator | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1960 | Over and Under | Tim Turner | Painting the Forth Bridge and a look at modern bridge-building including temporary bridges, taking place all over Britain today; but why are they so unattractive? There is competition on cost but why not design? Reflecting on past bridge successes and future methods of construction. |
| July 1960 | Horse-power Riders | Tim Turner | Experts prove that safety on a motorcycle stems from control of the machines. The Royal Corp Signals demonstrate this. Following The AA and RAC in their training programmes supported by ROSPA, and over to the Isle of Man TT to see this year's winner John Surtees. |
| March 1962 | Eyes of the Law | Raymond Baxter | A look at traffic controls in West Germany and their autobahns and how Britain can learn as they build miles of new motorway including the new Hammersmith Flyover. |
| April 1962 | Scooter Commuter | Tim Turner | Amidst the jams, In ten years, the number of scooters on British Roads has increased from 4,250 to over 470,000, and the convenience of "Corgi" style bikes. Remember your headscarf when you learn how to ride one! |
| May 1962 | Sea Horses | Tim Turner | Featuring tugboats, without which any big port would come to a standstill. |
| September 1962 | So They all Hover Now | Tim Turner | Today all kinds of things are using hover power. For passenger services, Trucks, barrows and even stretchers and how the declining ship yards of Clydeside are adapting to this new technology. Featuring the SR.N2. |
| September 1962 | The Village Sleeps Again | Tim Turner | The arguments for and against building by-passes, featuring Transport Minister Ernest Marples, how these can be built through many urban areas, how objections to new routes can be overcome and what effect they are having on previously swamped towns and villages. |
| January 1963 | Birdmen | Tim Turner | Discovering the origins and evolution of man-powered flight focusing on the John Wimpenny is the first man to pedal himself through the air for more than half a mile on the Puffin, designed and built by instructors and students of the de Havilland Aeronautical Technical School. |
| April 1963 | Draw the Fires | Tim Turner | The railways are changing, with coal-powered steam being phased out and replaced by diesel engines by 1972. Crowds pay their respects to the Flying Scotsman's last departure from Kings Cross as it is replaced by a 33-horsepower diesel. The network is being modernised by new signalling, longer continuous track on concrete sleepers and flyovers, and controversial closures of lines. |
| June 1963 | The Car Has Wings | Tim Turner | Natural boundaries no longer limit the range of motoring as cars are carried through tunnels, on ferries, over the new Forth Road Bridge, by train, air ferry and possibly by hovercraft in the future. |
| June 1963 | Vintage Models | Raymond Baxter | Meeting the veteran car enthusiast and looking at the restoration of vintage vehicles with a visit to National Motor Museum, Beaulieu Montagu Motor Museum at Beaulieu in the New Forest, the high-speed trials at Silverstone and the famous London to Brighton run |
| July 1963 | Pilot Aboard | The story of Britain's pilotage services. | |
| August 1963 | Where No Tide Flows | A look at canals today and how they have been rediscovered by holidaymakers. | |
Disc Three (1963–1965)
| Date of Feature | Title | Narrator | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1963 | High, Wide and Faster | Closer co-ordination between our roads, railways and coastal shipping. | |
| December 1963 | Oil Aboard | The story of the oil tankers and the crews that sail in them. | |
| December 1963 | Report on a River | Following the River Thames from its source in Gloucestershire to the Port of London, which is modernising services and keep traffic moving. | |
| December 1963 | Europe Grows Together | An urgent look at Britain's links with the Continent. | |
| April 1964 | Turn of the Wheel | A look at what is happening to the old trains and buses that are being replaced. | |
| May 1964 | City of Air | A look at the many aspects of London Airport with a focus on BOAC and BEA airlines. | |
| August 1964 | Behind the Ton-Up Boys | A reflection on the nearly two million motorcyclists in Britain. | |
| August 1964 | Going Places Under Water | The world's first underwater sightseeing bus. | |
| November 1964 | Living with Cars | Analysis of what is being done to cope with the increasing number of cars on our roads. Includes footage from London and Cumbernauld. | |
| December 1964 | Flying to Work | The increasing number of private planes and helicopters in Britain's airspace. | |
| February 1965 | The Spirit of Brooklands | The story of the Surrey motor racing circuit. | |
| April 1965 | Weather Adviser | How special ships maintain a constant watch on the weather, whatever the conditions. | |
| May 1965 | What Price Safety? | A look at what is being done to make cars and roads safer. | |
| September 1965 | Down in the Dumps | How the problem of dumped cars is being addressed. |
Disc Four (1965–1969)
| Date of Feature | Title | Narrator | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1965 | Cats of the Sea | The thrill of sailing catamarans. | |
| March 1966 | Breaking the Ice | Looking at the icebreakers which keep shipping routes open. | |
| December 1966 | Skimming through the Sixties | Revisiting the Hovercraft and how it has been evolving. | |
| December 1966 | The Big Take-Off | Assessing what is happening to Britain's aircraft industry in the face of competition. | |
| March 1967 | Lighter than Air | Going up in a hot air balloon. | |
| May 1967 | Just an Accident | The shocking statistic that twenty people are killed on the roads daily. | |
| May 1967 | Scrambling for It | The motor sport which is attracting thousands of followers. | |
| June 1967 | The Straights of Dover | A closer look at the 750 ships that pass through the five mile wide shipping channel every day. | |
| August 1967 | Where Do You Leave the Boat? | The problems of where to keep pleasure boats as more are built. | |
| October 1967 | Pushing the Bike | The impact of the bicycle on the world today. | |
| December 1967 | Playing Trains | How despite moves to diesel and electric traction thousands of people are still running steam locomotives on unprofitable branch lines. | |
| September 1968 | The City's for Living In | A response to the Buchanan Report with a focus on Bath and Norwich as to how British cities face the danger of the impact of traffic on the environment. | |
| March 1969 | All in a Day's Work | People who travel the world by air as part of their everyday jobs. | |
| March 1969 | A Load of Pheasants | Following intercontinental deliveries by lorries that travel through Britain's ferry ports. |
Volume 2: Military
Disc One (1960–1961)
| Date of Feature[4] | Title | Narrator | Synopsis[5] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | The Black Arrows | Tim Turner | The acrobatic team "Treble-One" Squadron who performed daring manoeuvres in jets capable of more than 700 mph. |
| 1960 | Ceremonial Soldier | As we see, the sentries at Buckingham Palace are still highly efficient soldiers. | |
| 1960 | Soldier Abroad | Tim Turner | A soldier's life at the HQ of the Third Royal Tank Regiment in Detmold, West Germany. |
| 1960 | Under the Rocket | Tim Turner | Life at the rocket range in Woomera, South Australia, through the eyes of a young REME corporal and his wife. |
| 1960 | Thunder in Waiting | Tim Turner | The deadly cargo of the Vulcan Bomber is a crucial part of Britain's deterrent force. |
| 1960 | 'A Piece of Cake' | Tim Turner | A film about the parachutists of the Parachute Regiment. |
| 1960 | Return to Arms | Tim Turner | A study of the new West German army. |
| 1960 | Submarine | Tim Turner | A glimpse of life and work in a submarine. |
| 1961 | The Rocket-Age Lancers | Tim Turner | Looking to the future with the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers. |
| 1961 | Air Umbrella | A look at NATO's international squadrons, with footage of the F104 Starfighter. | |
| 1960 | Flight Deck | Tim Turner | The aircraft carrier is now the nerve centre of any large naval operation. |
| 1961 | Pipeline | Tim Turner | Refuelling both in the air and at sea. |
| 1961 | Girls Ahoy! | John Witty | Formed in wartime, the Women's Royal Naval Service is still going strong. |
| 1961 | Survival | Tim Turner | A look at survival techniques with Peter Whittingham and RAF expert Jock Wishart. |
| 1961 | Muscle Men | Tim Turner | A fast-moving film with enough vigour to prove that muscle and brawn still count! |
Disc Two (1961-1964)
| Date of Feature | Title | Narrator | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Action This Day | The tough training of the Royal Marine Commandos - some of Britain's finest fighting men. | |
| 1961 | Char and Wad | The work of the NAAFI - from Kuwait to Gibraltar, Germany to Cyprus. | |
| 1962 | Test Pilot | A look at the RAF Lightning, supersonic watchdog of Britain's skies. | |
| 1962 | Rendered Safe | A look at the work of a bomb disposal squad. | |
| 1962 | The Last Battleship | The life and death of HMS Vanguard, and the uses to which her steel will be put. | |
| 1962 | Amphibian | A look at the DUKW and other amphibious military craft. | |
| 1962 | Turning Blades | The world of the helicopter in 1962; from the Belvedere to the experimental Rotodyne VTOL craft. | |
| 1962 | Plumbing the Depths | A film showing the importance of surveying the world's seas and oceans. | |
| 1962 | Golden Wings | A look at various aircraft, including the Blackburn monoplane, the Sopwith Pup and the Hart. | |
| 1962 | The Black Watch | The Queen Mother visits the Black Watch on the banks of the Tay. | |
| 1963 | Girls of the Air | The girls behind the men who fly: members of the WRAF. | |
| 1963 | The Sky's the Limit | Aerobatics, born of necessity in World War I, now form part of the RAF's training. | |
| 1964 | Forward, March! | The infantryman is the indispensable soldier of the British Army. | |
| 1964 | Doctor On Call | A look at a flying doctor service based near Kuala Lumpur. | |
| 1964 | Trouble-Shooters | A film showing Britain's trouble-shooters, the Royal Marines, in Sarawak. | |
Disc Three (1964-1969)
| Date of Feature | Title | Narrator | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Under One Umbrella | The story of how three fighting services were united under one command - the MOD. | |
| 1964 | The Price of Valour | An insight into the lives of some of the holders of the Victoria Cross. | |
| 1964 | The Jet Folk | We see the impact of the United States Third Air Force, stationed in Britain. | |
| 1964 | Drummers of the Queen | A look at the little-known Junior Guardsmen's Company. | |
| 1965 | The Flying Soldier | A look at helicopter training within the British Army. | |
| 1965 | The Cherry-Pickers | Following the 11th Hussars from Hanover to Coburg. | |
| 1965 | Jumping Jets | The revolutionary vertical take-off capacity of the RAF Kestrel. | |
| 1966 | Air Lift | How transport command of the RAF keeps Zambia's economy alive. | |
| 1966 | Down to Earth | Following WRAF girls as they trek into the jungle. | |
| 1966 | East of Suez | More than 50,000 British soldiers, sailors and airmen police the rivers and jungles of Borneo. | |
| 1966 | School for Skymen | A glimpse into the world of the RAF College at Cranwell. | |
| 1967 | Moving Day | How the headquarters of NATO was moved from France to Belgium. | |
| 1967 | Free Fall | The story of the Falcons - free-fall professionals. | |
| 1968 | Doctor On Call | The story of the Royal Green Jackets Skydiving Team. | |
| 1969 | Underwater Menace | Dealing with the hazardous legacy of World War II. | |
Volume 3: Science
Disc One (1959–1963)
| Date of Feature | Title | Narrator | Synopsis[6] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Follow the Stars | E.V.H. Emmett | There are many who follow the stars. Some believe they can indicate the future, while astronomers spend their nights observing the heavens through the great telescopes at Jodrell Bank. |
| ? | A Marriage is Arranged | E.V.H. Emmett | How a marriage between steel and plastic is successfully forged at British steelworks. |
| 1960 | Channel Tunnel | Tim Turner | A visit to the trial tunnel and a look at all the scientific research necessary. |
| 1960 | Healing Hands | The onward march of surgery – and the dedicated research behind the scenes of medicine. | |
| 1960 | Testing Time | Tim Turner | A film about all the different things that need to be tested in Britain today. |
| 1960 | Making a Meal Out of It | Tim Turner | A film looking at various aspects of food, visiting research laboratories as well as taking a look at food from the turn of the century. |
| 1961 | Press-Button Age | Tim Turner | Every day is another step into the press-button age; this film shows how our lives are increasingly regulated by automation. |
| 1961 | Flood Tide | How the ceaseless battle with the sea is being fought with the aid of the Flood Warning System. | |
| 1961 | Men With Ideas | A film providing insight into the machinery of patenting. | |
| 1961 | Mystery of a Fish | From the River Axe in Devon, scientists catch every young salmon that swims downstream in an effort to map this species’ incredible voyage. | |
| 1962 | Rockets Away! | A film exploring the research being done on rockets, for both peaceful purposes and defence. | |
| 1962 | The Little Menace | A study of what is being done in medical research. | |
| 1962 | Trouble on Oily Waters | The dumping of oil waste in the sea has created a new menace along Britain’s shoreline. | |
| 1962 | Any Old Iron? | This film turns the spotlight on the people who prepare salvaged steel for re-use, and on the steel foundries which melt it down again. | |
| 1963 | Caught in the Cold | Every year, Britain gets caught in the cold; cities crawl to a standstill, and road and rail traffic is disrupted. Why does this happen in an age of scientific miracles? | |
Disc Two (1963–1964)
| Date of Feature | Title | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Figure it Out | The story of computers: from electronic tape and punched cards, to austere-looking robots. |
| 1963 | Keeping Clean | An interesting look at the new mechanised way of cleaning. |
| 1963 | The Destroyers | Pests come in all shapes and sizes, from the woodworm and grain weevil to the homely city pigeon. This film shows the research which goes on to control them. |
| 1963 | Back-Room of the Sky | At Boscombe Down, on the edge of Salisbury Plain, every part of a new plane is tested, and it is then flown to its operational limit. Not only are the aircraft tested, but also the men who fly them. |
| 1963 | People of Power | A close look at the operation of the Berkeley Nuclear Power Station. |
| 1963 | Second Chance | This moving film shows an achievement in which science and humanity have combined to offer the 100,000 people in Britain who have lost a limb a chance to live happy and useful lives. |
| 1963 | Key of the Door | A look at the educational centres where training in technical subjects is aiming to keep pace with the demands of this scientific age. |
| 1963 | You Can't Catch Much from a Fish | ‘Look at Life’ went to see what the six months’ compulsory quarantine means to the 3,000 dogs and 500 cats brought into Britain each year. |
| 1963 | Men Under Pressure | This exciting film shows the work of the men who build tunnels below water level, and the scientific and medical care that ensures they suffer no ill-effects from their unusual occupation. |
| 1964 | Fings are Getting Smaller | Taking a look at how everything is being reduced in size in the new compact age. |
| 1964 | Salute the Engineer | More and more engineers are needed to keep pace with developing industry; this film offers a glimpse of the wide range of jobs they undertake. |
| 1964 | So Much Flattery! | Few realise how far the art of imitation has developed. Synthetic furs and jewellery, artificial flowers and copies of great paintings, ‘marble’ made of laminated plastic, and that most quotidian of imitations – artificial teeth. |
| 1964 | Having a Baby | A look at the medical and social services available for both hospital and home births. |
| 1964 | Power Needs No Passport | Stretching across Western Europe is a network of electric power stations, linked by the transmission lines that span a continent. This is the story of an ever-present problem: Europe’s increasing need for electricity. |
| 1964 | Wealth Under the Sea | A trip to the North Sea to follow the search for oil. |
Disc Three (1964–1969)
| Date of Feature | Title | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | By Bread Alone | A look at what is happening in the baking industry as scientists try to find out why bread doesn’t keep fresh longer and to solve the problem of staleness. |
| 1965 | Frontiers of Medicine | Machines are playing an increasing part not only in the treatment of disease, but also in helping to find out the causes of illness. |
| 1965 | Sugaring the Pill | Large numbers of pills are consumed every year; this film takes a look at the growth of the pharmaceutical industry. |
| 1965 | Beating the Racket | A look at what is being done to reduce noise levels. |
| 1965 | Will Taps Run Dry? | Much of Britain faces a water shortage every year. This film reveals the complex business of ensuring that the taps don’t run dry. |
| 1966 | Treading on the Gas | Following the ships that come from the Sahara Desert bringing methane gas. |
| 1966 | Boxes of Tricks | The teaching machine – the educational box of tricks – is being used increasingly today in schools, universities and industry. |
| 1966 | The Givers | Britain’s National Blood Transfusion Service came of age in 1967. It was the first of its kind in the world; Britain was and is today the best organised and equipped. |
| 1967 | What Price Ideas? | Taking a look at the new inventions that are being made in Britain today. |
| 1967 | Cleaning People | A look at the dry-cleaning business and the work of the chemists behind it. |
| 1967 | Press-Button Farms | A revolution is taking place down on the farm – the machines are taking over, so that the modern farmer can operate his farm almost single-handed. |
| 1967 | Keeping Tabs on Space | A look at Britain’s first spacecraft, UK3, and how it was created, tested and launched. |
| 1968 | Brain Drain | The brain drain, mainly in young scientists and engineers, has risen to a rate of 6,000 men a year. Why do they go? |
| 1968 | North Sea Commuters | A film providing the background to the tapping of the vast supply of natural energy that Britain has discovered on her doorstep. |
| 1969 | Their Lifeline - The Nile | A film about the colossal Aswan High Dam – Egypt’s greatest hope for the future. |
Volume 5: Cultural History
Disc One
| Title | Synopsis |
|---|---|
| A Dog's Life | Looking at London from a dog's point of view |
| Down London River | A leisurely journey through London along the river Thames |
| Coffee Bar | A look at the cult of the coffee bar and its habits |
| Garden of Tomorrow | Exploring British gardens, including the Chelsea Flower Show and all the latest garden gadgets |
| Harvest of Hops | Following a London family on their annual hop-picking holiday in Kent |
| Island of Men | A visit to the Fair Isle and population issues |
| Top People | Looking at new high rise living in the City of London |
| Shopping by the Ton | A look at London's main markets and the energy and bustle of three old markets and their traditions |
Volume 6: World Affairs
Disk One
| Date of Feature | Title | Narrator | Synopsis[7] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Marrakesh | E.V.H. Emmett | A look at Morocco’s historical third city. |
| 1959 | The Divided City | Tim Turner | A look at the two very different faces of Berlin. |
| 1959 | Operation Noah’s Ark | George Cansdale | The building of Africa’s Kariba Dam created a vast lake, meaning death for the animals marooned on higher ground; this film shows the work done to save them. |
| 1960 | Seaway | A look at the opening of the Saint Lawrence seaway. | |
| 1960 | Village of Violins | A visit to the village of Mittenwald in the Bavarian Alps, where for 300 years violin-making has been a traditional craft. | |
| 1960 | Gibraltar’s New Day | Tim Turner | Gibraltar has been a British outpost since 1704. This film visits the island as it prepares to become a holiday destination. |
| 1960 | The Wind of Change | A look at developments and achievements in Africa during the 1950s and 1960s. | |
| 1960 | Power for Africa | A further look at Africa – in particular its increasing capacity to harness its waters. | |
| 1961 | Rolling out from Rio | Six hundred miles inside Brazil stands the new capital Brasilia, one of the 20th century’s most imaginative projects. | |
| 1961 | Lady of Japan | A look at the development of Japan, and especially Tokyo. | |
| 1961 | Flags over the Temples | A look at the impact of the south-east Asia treaty organisation (SEATO) in Thailand. | |
| 1961 | City of Crisis | A film that takes another look at the crisis-torn city of Berlin. | |
| 1962 | A Problem of People | A film examining the ways in which Pakistan is tackling its immense refugee problem. | |
| 1962 | Eagle’s Nest | Berchtesgaden, in the Bavarian Alps, attracts visitors from all over the world; many come to see Hitler's ‘Eagle’s Nest’, a feat of construction that survived World War II. | |
| 1962 | The Maple has New Leaves | A film showing the emigration to Canada of a typical English family. | |
| 1962 | Chasing the Dragon | A look at illegal drug trafficking in Hong Kong and the problems of heroin addiction. | |
| 1962 | The Trail leads Upwards | A visit to a native Canadian family, and a look at the construction of a new bridge across the Niagara river. | |
| 1962 | G.H.Q. Middle East | A mixture of the old and the new: a look at G.H.Q. middle east at Aden. | |
| 1962 | The Wall | A visit to Hadrian's wall in Northumberland, and a more detailed examination of the Berlin wall. | |
| 1962 | Out of the Sun | A look at immigration from the West Indies into Britain. | |
| 1962? | Common Market | An assessment of the progress of the Common Market during a period in which its member countries have begun to remove trade barriers. | |
| 1962 | The Changing River | A film looking at the changing face of the River Rhine. | |
| 1962 | Millions on the March | Following the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II, this film looks at India’s development in terms of farming and industry. | |
| 1962 | Call from the Wild | A look at wildlife protection in North and South Rhodesia, and the development of national parks. | |
| 1963 | Out of the Bush | A look at the emerging independent countries of Africa, featuring images of life in both the village and the city. | |
| 1963 | Men of the Woods | For centuries the men of Berchtesgaden have earned their living from the trees that surround them; now mechanisation is eroding their traditional skills. | |
| 1963 | Forging New Links | The story of Ulster began when James I obtained money from the city of London to colonise the north of Ireland. This film looks at Ulster’s role in Britain’s productivity. | |
| 1963 | Gypsy Holiday | Each year, Europe’s gypsies make a pilgrimage to the Camargue – the wild corner of France where the Rhône meets the Mediterranean. | |
| 1963 | Pick of the Bunch | A look at wine producing in France and Germany. | |
| 1964 | The New Australians | A trip to Australia to see how the country is coping with its large intake of immigrants. | |
| 1964 | Men of the Snowy | Few migrants have ever found a more spectacular role than the men working together on Australia’s vast project to harness the waters of the Snowy River. | |
| 1964 | Singapore is Youth | A look at a modern, forward-looking Singapore. | |
| 1964 | Off the Sheep’s Back | Australia has 15 times more sheep than people, with wool providing nearly half of the country’s export earnings. But how does Australia envision its future? | |
| 1964 | Constant Hot Water | A film looking at the volcanic zone of New Zealand, and the hot water it produces. | |
| 1964 | Tide on the Turn | This film looks at the economic and social impact of foreign industrialists in the Irish republic. | |
| 1964 | Malta Milestone | With the demise of the great naval dockyard, Malta has sought new ways to generate income... | |
| 1965 | Women at Sea | A look at the various seafaring jobs for women – from work on the great passenger liners, to merchant navies. | |
| 1965 | James Bond’s Island | A look at post-independence Jamaica, and the country’s hope to gain a firm footing in the modern world. | |
| 1965 | Volunteers for Service | Part of the contribution made by Britain to assist newly independent countries in increasing their skills and knowledge. | |
| 1965 | Men Against the Sea | For centuries the Dutch have fought against the sea: this film looks at the delta plan – a spectacular sea-defence scheme. | |
| 1966 | The Curtain Changes | A look at the frontiers between Eastern and Western Europe. | |
| 1966 | On Top of the World | A look at the changing way of life in Lapland – the vast tract of forest land that stretches across the north of Norway, Sweden and Finland, and into Russian. | |
| 1966 | Swedish Pattern | Look at life goes to Sweden to examine the country’s pioneering way of life – and potential influence on Britain. | |
| 1966 | Market by the Danube | A visit behind the iron curtain to Hungary to see how it has changed. | |
| 1966 | The Beach | The world’s most famous beach is the Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro. But overlooking it are the shacks of the world’s poorest people. | |
| 1966 | Face Lift | A tale of two cities looking at the ways in which Paris and London have set about cleaning up their appearance. | |
| 1966 | Incas in bowler hats | The majority of the Bolivian population is Indian, with traditions dating back to the Incas. But the problem of uniting the Bolivians of Indian and Spanish descent remains. | |
| 1966 | One in Six | A look at Luxembourg, a country of 1,000 square miles and, in the early 1960s, a population of 50,000. | |
| 1966 | An Island Awakes | Sardinia was once considered a depressed area; this film looks at the changes resulting from a major development plan. | |
| 1966 | City of All Nations | A visit to São Paulo in Brazil, a city which is growing continually each year. | |
| 1966 | The Six Come Closer | A close look at the European Community, showing some of the problems that the common market has had to solve. | |
| 1966 | Jobs Where You Like | A film examining one of the most exciting aspects of the common market: the free movement of migrant workers. | |
| 1966 | Pipeline to Plenty | A look at how Kuwait is coping with its newly acquired wealth, and the provisions being made for the future. | |
| 1967 | End of a Polish March | A look at the lives of Britain’s Polish community. | |
| 1967 | Once Upon a Time... | A trip to Denmark to look at the Danish way of life. | |
| 1967 | Living on a Volcano | Ascension Island is home to many families, who sometimes work there for up to two years. | |
| 1967 | Chinatown | A look at the world of the Chinese who have made Britain their home. | |
| 1967 | Inside Russia 1: Fifty! | A film providing a background to the achievements of the Russian people – expressed in great housing schemes, giant dams and, of course, the conquest of space. | |
| 1967 | Inside Russia 2: The Heiresses | A look at the role of women in the soviet union – from helping to build new flats to running factories, driving buses to presiding over divorce courts. | |
| 1967 | Inside Russia 3: Childhood | A film that traces the story of Russian children, through kindergarten, school and university. | |
| 1967 | Inside Russia 4: The Woken Land | Although Siberia conjures up a picture of exile and slave labour, the new Siberia has modern cities with young populations. This film explores life east of the Urals. | |
| 1968 | Winter Blossoms | A look at the rapid changes taking place in the Algarve, with the planning of luxury development schemes along the coastline. | |
| 1968 | Man of the Desert | A look at changes taking place in Tunisia, ten years after it gained independence. | |
| 1968 | Something New Under Everest | Nepal, once a forbidden country, is opening up; this film offers a picture of life in one of the world’s most picturesque countries, as old customs give way to new ideas. | |
| 1968 | A New Shade of Red | A look at the changing pattern of Czech life during the upheaval of 1968. | |
| 1968 | Coming of Age | A film about India; what has been achieved, and what still remains to be done in the sub-continent where problems are never small ones. | |
| 1968 | Home is Tibet | A film looking at Tibetan refugees, and the way in which their Dalai Lama has kept the scattered community intact. | |
| 1968 | The Sinking City | A look at the efforts being made to prevent Venice from sinking. | |
| 1968 | Escape into Riches | A look at the spiritual wealth of India – as expressed in her art and design, her music and dance, and her sculpture and architecture. | |
| 1969 | In the Shadow of the Wall | Behind the Berlin wall is a death-strip with electrified fences and watchtowers; this film also looks at the rebuilding of West Berlin, and the hope of reunification. | |
| 1969 | After the Queen’s Visit | In 1968, the Queen paid a state visit to Chile – the first British reigning monarch to do so. This film considers what the future holds for this country. | |
| 1969 | Look at Man | Look at life visits the Isle of Man to discover why it wants greater independence. |
Volume 7: Business and Industry
Contents (3 discs)
| Date | Title | Synopsis[8] |
|---|---|---|
| Market Place | Sid James narrates a film looking at street markets at a time when they are increasingly forced to compete with modern supermarkets. | |
| A Car Is Born | A survey of the success of the British car, this film considers the various stages of design, production and testing to build up a fascinating profile of the industry | |
| Saving Face | A look at the magic of the beauty business | |
| Money Talks | A film investigating the complex world of money. | |
| Down On The Farm | A look at the newest developments in farming of every kind. | |
| Bottle Party | Look at Life tells the fascinating story of why we throw away 200 million bottles every year! | |
| Under the Hammer | A look at the world of auctions, from the often characteristic auctioneers selling every kind of commodity, to the many different people who come to their sale-rooms. | |
| A Year For A Day | For many people in Britain, Christmas provides an all-year-round job, with crackers, cards, decorations and the growing of trees offering constant employment. | |
| Roman Invasion | Long before the era of the Italian coffee bar came the ice cream man, the organ grinder and the cafe owner; before them, the innovative invaders of 2,000 years ago... | |
| On The Mark | Shooting is big business in Britain today, and this film looks at that business - from the production and testing of guns to their use on moors and ranges. | |
| Shares In Tomorrow | A study of the exciting world of stock exchanges and how a deal is done between a broker and a jobber. | |
| Shelling Out | This unusual film examines the world of shellfish - from the delicate-tasting oyster to the humbler mussel, and the sudden popularity of scampi. | |
| What A Pet! | A light-hearted survey of the pet world in general and the budgerigar part of it in particular. A film that every pet owner will love. | |
| Ice Age | The manufacture and multifarious uses of an abundantly available substance: ice! | |
| And So To Bed | A look at the manufacture of one of modern life's most important purchases, the mattress. | |
| Coming, Sir! | An interesting look into the developing hotel industry and the problems it has to face. | |
| Tulip Town | The Story of Spalding, told on the most significant day in the town's calendar: that of the annual Flower Parade, when over 8,000,000 tulip heads show visitors the glory of the tulip industry. | |
| For the Record | How Helen Shapiro's 1961 hit "Walkin' Back To Happiness" was recorded; pressed and distributed. | |
| Jobs With A Thrill | Think your job is too boring? See what these men do for a living. | |
| Roses All The Way | England's national emblem for centuries, the rose is our most fragrant export. This sparding film looks at the enduringly popular perennial gracing millions of gardens. | |
| Everything Stops For Tea | Everything stops when the kettle boils! This is the story of what happens to our national beverage from the time it is landed at the London docks until it reaches our teapots. | |
| Lights Up | The subject of modern lighting is explored and a colourful and intriguing survey given of the people who make, experiment with, and use light. | |
| Fish and Ships | ||
| The Hat Trick | David Nixon takes us for a peek into the world of ladies' hats | |
| At the End of a Rope | A look at rope, how it's made and what it's used for | |
| Pictures Tell the Story | ||
| The Box On The Wall | ||
| Crowning Glory | ||
| Rising to High Office | A look at London's changing skyline, including the new Shell Centre | |
| The Trade Winds Blow | A trip to the north-east of England and a look at its precarious position in modern industry | |
| Glamour Gets a Passport | ||
| A Pinch Of Salt | ||
| Silver's New Shine | ||
| The Golden West | ||
| For Crying Out Loud! | ||
| Stone Age | ||
| Ups and Downs | ||
| Spuds Galore | A look at the humble potato | |
| Money In The Slot | ||
| The Other Film World | A film about film and its applications in industry and technology | |
| Laying The Table | ||
| New Hands On The Farm | ||
| Down Town | ||
| Farming For Fish | ||
| Putting More Beef Into It | ||
| The Sweet Life | ||
| Living On Smoke | ||
| Cover Story | A look at the increasing popularity of paperback books | |
| Evening Paper | ||
| Music By The Mile | ||
| Home Tomorrow | ||
| Roll Out The Barrell | ||
| The Hidden Strength | ||
| Putting On A Show | ||
| 1967 | Put To the Test | |
| 1967 | Put Out The Flags | The uses and making of flags |
| 1967 | On The Scent | |
| 1967 | Hopping Along! | A look at the disappearing world of the Kent hop pickers |
| 1968 | Top Chef | A day in the life of Eugene Kaufeler, head chef at London's Dorchester Hotel |
| 1968 | Can you read this? | A look at literacy in modern Britain |
References
newsonscreen
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ↑ "Look At Life". BUFVC. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
- ↑
- ↑ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/491
- ↑ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Look-Life-Volume-Two-Military/dp/B004M2FD7C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361297801&sr=8-1
- ↑ http://networkonair.com/shop/1436-look-at-life-volume-3-science.html
- ↑ http://networkonair.com/shop/1656-look-at-life-volume-6-world-affairs.html
- ↑ http://networkonair.com/shop/2215-look-at-life-volume-7-business-and-industry-5027626435042.html
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