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Communist Party and related films held by ETV Ltd
From the Spring of 1951 Plato Films Ltd. provided the Left and in particular the Communist movement with films from the Socialist part of the world. Its managing director was Stanley Forman who had previously had a career with the YCL, the British-Soviet Society and the Civil Service Union. Among its shareholders were such Communist luminaries as Eva Reckitt (of Collett's bookstore fame), trade-union official Bill Ellerby, secretary of the British-Soviet Friendship Society Bill Wainwright, composer Alan Bush and singer Martin Lawrence, with British-Soviet Friendship Houses Ltd. making a substantial investment of £500.
After the 22nd Party Congress when Party organisations were urged 'to develop the cultural struggle as a part of the political struggle', film shows proliferated. Plato provided most of the films and through a national network of agents in many cases provided the projection service as well. After it had fought a successful campaign to lift the ban imposed by the British Board of Film Censors on the GDR documentary OPERATION TEUTONIC SWORD in the territory controlled by the London County Council, Plato was hit in February 1959 by a libel suit issued by British lawyers on behalf on the NATO General Speidel. The court battle went all the way to the House of Lords and lasted more than three years. A new company was set up, Educational & Television Films Ltd. (ETV) which is still trading today. It has been and still is contributing to many of the major historical TV documentaries such as THE PEOPLE'S CENTURY (watch the credits!).
The collection of Plato Films includes a good deal of the feature films, newsreels and documentaries from the Socialist part of the world that it has distributed since 1951. Of particular interest to historians of British Communism is its collection of British Labour Movement films. The origins of this collection go back to the Progressive Film Institute (PFI), which was established in the 1930s by the well-known Communist zoologist/journalist/film maker Ivor Montagu. After the demise of the PFI in the late 1940s, Montagu donated a number of British left-wing films, both PFI-productions and films made by organisations like Kino and the Workers' Film & Photo League, to Plato. To this core collection were added CPGB election campaign films and footage of May Day demonstrations and the like shot by Communist cameramen such as Lewis McLeod and Manny Yospa during the 1950s. In the 1960s Plato and ETV developed an active policy of covering on celluloid (16mm, without synch sound) events of importance in the movement, such as the funerals of well-known comrades. The company took an active part too in the rare television party political broadcasts that the CPGB was allowed to make.
A brief summary is provided on each of the fifty odd titles listed below. Unless indicated the films are black and white. The running times are approximate. In due time most of the films will be given in trust to the Archive Trust of the CPGB.
For further information about the films, please contact ETV Ltd, 247a Upper Street, London N1 1RU; 0171-226-2298 (tel); 020-7226-8016 (fax)
ACTION AGAINST THE MEANS TEST (1935) a silent film (10 mins.), made by the Film & Photo League, of demonstrations against the Means Test.
ANTI-FASCIST DEMONSTRATIONS 1937 a silent film (2 mins.) composed of footage of various anti-fascist demonstrations in Paris, Great Britain and the Soviet Union.
BRITAIN 1935 - JUBILEE YEAR [JUBILEE] (1935) a silent film (10 mins.) made by the brothers H.A. and R. Green, contrasting the East End Jubilee tour of King and Queen, covered by batteries of newsreel cameras, with the day-to-day East End with its slums, poverty and dole queues that the newsreel cameras never showed.
BUSMEN'S HOLIDAY (1937) silent colour footage of the London busmen's contingent in the May Day parade (the London busmen were on strike against the wishes of the TGWU leadership); Bert Papworth is shown; followed by a black and white reportage of an outing by the busmen to a seaside resort where they are entertained by Tom Mann; total running time is 7 mins.
CLAUDE BERRIDGE FUNERAL (13 JULY 1966) silent footage shot by Manny Yospa for ETV Ltd., showing the crowd assembling in Golders Green, the cortege on the move, people entering the crematorium; among the palbearers are Wolf Wayne, Bill Jones, Dennis Goodwin, Bill Alexander, John Mahon and Pat Devine; other well-known Communists are present.
COLLET'S ADVERT FOR SOVIET UNION MAGAZINE a short colour advert (5 mins.) for the magazine Soviet Union, sponsored by its distributor Collet's and shot at Stanley Forman's North London home by Peter Robinson and Peter Weingreen.
CP CONGRESS 1963 silent footage (10 mins.) of the Congress held at St. Pancras Town Hall shot by Manny Yospa for ETV Ltd., showing such well-known Communists as Willie Gallacher and Bob Stewart, with Frank Stanley in the chair and John Gollan delivering the main report.
CP 15TH CONGRESS 1938 [XVTH CONGRESS FILM] a silent film (10 mins.) made by Ivor Montagu's Progressive Film Institute of the CPGB Congress in Birmingham that was overshadowed by the Mόnich crisis; well-known Communists such as Pollitt, Hannington, Gallacher, Mann and Gollan are shown on the stage of the town hall that had been especially decorated for the occasion; A PLANT IN THE SUN is performed by Unity Theatre and Tom Mann leads the community singing.
CP HOME POLICY (1955) a silent film (8 mins.) made of photographs and prints from the James Klugmann collection; this film was made to be screened by the Communist Party cinema van during the 1955 local and Parliamentary election campaigns.
CPGB DEMONSTRATION CA. 1953 colour footage (10 mins.) shot by Lewis McLeod showing the London District contingent leaving Hyde Park; Peter Kerrigan is seen among the marchers; Harry Pollitt addresses the crowd on Trafalgar Square.
CPGB DEMONSTRATION, LONDON 13 JUNE 1971 silent colour footage (10 mins.) of a CPGB demonstration against the policies of the Heath Government; the film ends with John Gollan addressing the demonstrators on Trafalgar Square.
CP ELECTION FILM 1963 this film (10 mins.) also known as OUR LIFE IN OUR HANDS was made by ETV Ltd. as a party political broadcast for the 1964 elections but never transmitted as the CPGB was unable to field the required 50 candidates; it features John Gollan, who discusses party policies and introduces the candidates Gladys Easton, Frank Stanley, Julian Tudor-Hart and Jimmy Reid.
CP ELECTION FILM 1970 John Gollan addresses the nation in a party political broadcast (5 mins.) made by ETV Ltd. for the 1970 elections; it ends with the slogan 'Go one better Vote Socialist'.
CRIME AGAINST MADRID (1937) a CNT film (30 mins.) re-edited with other material.
DAILY WORKER EDITORIAL BOARD (1948) footage (5 mins.) shot by Pathι News in 1948 but never included in its newsreel; Daily Worker staff and offices in their new building.
DAILY WORKER TRAILER (1938) a short silent advertising film (3 mins.) for the Daily Worker.
DECISION this film on the Inner Party Democracy congress held in September 1977 was made by Roger Graef for Granada Television.
DEFENCE OF MADRID (1936) silent film (50 mins.) made in Madrid in November 1936 by Ivor Montagu and Norman McLaren as the Progressive Film Institute's contribution to raise money for Spanish Aid; in the first Part the history of the war is explained, with its consequences: Italian airplanes bombing Madrid, the destruction of human lives and historic buildings, the rescue work; in Part II the formation of the Republican army is shown, the front line near the University City, the food queues and the evacuation of women and children; the last Part shows the arrival of a Soviet food ship and the activities of the International Brigade, with footage of Ludwig Renn and Hanns Beimler; Eleanor Rathbone and Christopher Addison add their comments (in captions).
DINNER FOR AMBATIELOS silent footage (10 mins.) of a dinner held to celebrate the release from jail and arrival in the UK of Greek Communist Tony Ambatielos.
ELECTION 1966 John Gollan addresses the nation in a party political broadcast (5 mins.) made by ETV Ltd. for the 1966 elections.
ELECTION 1966 John Gollan introduces three CPGB candidates: Irene Swann, Frank Stanley and Tony Chater; this party political broadcast (10 mins.) was not transmitted.
FASCISTS DEFEATED AT CABLE STREET (1936) silent footage (5 mins.) of anti-fascist campaigns in 1936 (poor quality).
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF LABOUR MONTHLY silent footage (10 mins.) of the party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Labour Monthly in 1971; with shots of Rajani Palme Dutt and Robin Page Arnot.
FIFTY FIGHTING YEARS (1972) a sound film (45 mins.) on the history of Labour Monthly and the history of the British Labour movement in this century; the film was written by Stanley Forman, Ivor Montagu and Roger Woddis, co-directed by Forman and Roland Bischoff and made possible by East German financial support; it features Rajani Palme Dutt and Robin Page Arnot.
FREE THAELMANN (1935) silent film (18 mins.) edited from a longer American film by Ivor Montagu's Progressive Film Institute in support of the campaign of the Relief Committee for the Victims of German Fascism; the career of Thδlmann is traced, with footage of the Weimar period, and the Nazi terror, the underground press and the international campaign for the release of the German CP leader are shown.
GALLACHER'S FUNERAL (1965) silent footage (10 mins.) filmed by Scottish comrade(s) in Paisley; among those paying their last respect are Bob Stewart, Rajani Palme Dutt, D.N. Pritt, Hugh McDiarmid, Frank Stanley, John Platts-Mills, Johnnie and Elsie Gollan; among the pallbearers are Frank Stanley, Gordon McLennan and Peter Kerrigan; the cortege moves through Paisley; shots of the crowd at the funeral; the nameplate on the door of Gallacher's house.
HARRY POLLITT'S FUNERAL (1960) silent footage (7 mins.) shot by Manny Yospa for ETV Ltd., showing well-known Communists assembling; among the crowd are Hewlett Johnson (the 'Red' Dean of Canterbury), Paul Robeson, a Chinese delegation and Soviet ambassador Ponomariov; Majorie Pollitt in the car, which is followed by Gollan, Gallacher, Kerrigan, Annie Powell and Brian Pollitt; the cortege arrives at Golders Green crematorium.
HARRY POLLITT IN AUSTRALIA (1960) silent footage (20 seconds) of Harry Pollitt talking to reporters on his arrival in Australia; the film was sent as a fraternal gift by Australian comrades.
HARRY POLLITT IN CHINA (1955) a sound reportage (9 mins.) of the visit of Harry Pollitt and Bob Stewart to China in April/May 1955; they visit Peking, Shanghai, meet Mao Zedong and join the May Day celebrations on Tiananmen Square; the commentary is spoken by Daily Worker correspondent Alan Winnington.
HARRY POLLITT IN MANCHESTER (1959) silent footage (3 mins.) of the arrival of Harry Pollitt in the (Free Trade?) hall in Manchester on Sunday 22 February 1959 where a meeting against the Tory policies is held, followed by footage of the meeting itself; shot by Lewis McLeod for the Soviet newsreel.
HARRY POLLITT IN THE 1950s silent colour footage of a demonstration in Hyde Park with Julius Jacobs, Solly Kaye and George Bridges; silent colour footage of a May Day demonstration starting on the Embankment and ending in Hyde Park, with Harry Pollitt speaking from the platform; black and white footage of a CP delegation delivering a petition to 10 Downing Street; total length of this material shot by Lewis McLeod approx. 10 mins.
HARRY POLLITT 1955 ELECTION a sound film (3½ mins.) shot by Ralph Bond in the United Motion Pictures studios in London; Bond (off screen) introduces the General Secretary of the Communist Party who exhorts the audience to vote Communist; this film which was made to be shown by the Communist cinema vans may possibly already have been shot in 1951.
INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE (1937) silent film (12 mins.) made by Vera Elkan with support of Ivor Montagu's Progressive Film Institute; unique material on the day-to-day activities of the International Brigade; including shots of Pravda correspondent Michail Koltsov, Daily Worker correspondent Frank Pitcairn, Professor Haldane, Jock Cunningham, George Nathan, Hans Kahle, Giuseppe di Vittorio and Ludwig Renn.
INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE - EMPRESS HALL RALLY (1939) silent footage (10 mins.) shot by ACT members of the meeting in the Empress Hall to celebrate to return to Britain of the British International Brigaders who fought in Spain.
JUNE 29TH DEMONSTRATION a film (10 mins.) of the CPGB National Demonstration in 1954, shot by Manny Yospa.
KING STREET, 1948 silent footage (5 mins.) shot by Pathι News but never included in the newsreel; Communist MPs Phil Piratin and Willie Gallacher in discussion with General Secretary Harry Pollitt; John Gollan working in his office; members of the staff at 16 King Street.
LAWRENCE BRADSHAW INTERVIEW the artist is interviewed (5 mins.) by GDR cameraman Dieter Kratz on his Karl Marx sculpture.
LDCP GARDEN PARTY AND COACH OUTING (1935) a silent film (5 mins.) of a garden party and coach outing of the London District of the CP.
LONDON WORKERS' OUTING, EASTER 1935 a silent film (4½ mins.) of sports and other amusements at High Beech, organised by the London District of the CPGB.
MAY DAY 1937 a silent film (9 mins.) of the Communist demonstrations at May Day 1937.
NEVER AGAIN (1955) a silent film (8 mins.) about the horrors of Nazism and the campaign against nuclear armament; this film was made to be screened by the Communist Party cinema van during the 1955 local and Parliamentary election campaigns.
OUR LIFE IN THEIR HANDS see CP ELECTION FILM 1963
PALME DUTT INTERVIEW 28 JUNE 1966 Rajani Palme Dutt is interviewed by GDR Television (20 mins.).
PEACE AND PLENTY (1939) Communist Party election film (sound; 23 mins.) made by Ivor Montagu's Progressive Film Institute; an audiovisual adaptation of Harry Pollitt report at the Party's XVth Congress, indicting the Chamberlain Government and calling for the election of a democratic government; the puppet of Chamberlain was made by the mother of actress Elsa Lanchester; the music was written by well-known bandleader Van Phillips; embodying the Popular Front policy the film became obsolete in September 1939, while the Parliamentary elections in view of which it was made did not take place until 1945 due to the outbreak of World War II.
PEOPLE'S JUBILEE (1977) colour footage (10 mins.) shot by Jeff Perks of the alternative jubilee festivities in Alexandra Palace.
RHONDDA DEPRESSION YEARS (1935) incomplete print (11 mins.) of a silent film shot in 1935 by Donald Alexander and Judy Birdwood in the Rhondda Fach, where the former stayed in CP councillor Jim Morton's home; shots of housing conditions; miners on their way to a protest meeting.
RUSSIAN DANCERS IN LONDON/FOLK FESTIVAL 1935 silent film of Russian folk dancers appearing in London; originally this was an item in WORKERS NEWSREEL NO.4, produced by the Workers' Film & Photo League.
SPANISH ABC (1938) sound film (18 mins.) made by Ivor Montagu's Progressive Film Institute for the Spanish Republican Government (directed by Sidney Cole).
STOP FASCISM 1937 silent footage (3 mins.) of anti-fascist demonstrations.
TOM MANN'S 80TH BIRTHDAY 1936 a silent film shot by J.E. Richardson of the birthday party in honour of Tom Mann.
UNVEILING OF THE KARL MARX MEMORIAL (1956) sound film (10 mins.) produced by Plato Films but never released in Great Britain; it was financed by the Socialist countries through the services of Andrew Rothstein, who appears alongside Harry Pollitt, Arthur Horner and J.D. Bernal to speak at the occasion of the unveiling of the memorial in Highgate Cemetery.
WORKERS' NEWSREEL NO.1 (1934) silent newsreel (10 mins.) produced by Kino, showing the Daily Worker Gala in Plumstead, the building of a new store for the London Co-operative Society, the Hendon Air-Display, the Youth Anti-War Congress in Sheffield and the anti-war demonstration in Hyde Park in August.
WORKERS' NEWSREEL NO.2 (1934) silent newsreel (15 mins.) produced by Kino, showing the anti-fascist demonstrations in Hyde Park on 9 September, the removal by the police of a 'Free Thaelmann' banner on the Strand, the Gresford Colliery Disaster and the anti-fascist sports rally in Paris.
YOUTH PEACE PILGRIMAGE 1939 silent film (9 mins.) of a peace march by members of the Labour Party League, the Co-operative Societies and various youth groups, culminating in a meeting in Trafalgar Square; among those shown are Charles Gibson, John Gollan, Bill Carritt, Denis Healey and Ted Willis.
Bert Hogenkamp
Head of Research
Netherlands Audiovisual Archive (NAA)
Zeeburgerkade 8
1019 HA Amsterdam
00-31.20.665.2966 (tel); 00-31.20.665.9086 (fax)
bert.hogenkamp@sfw.nl
Author of Deadly Parallels: Film and the Left in Britain, 1929-39, Bert Hogenkamp is currently writing a sequel dealing with the 1950s-60s. His article '"The sunshine of Socialism". The CPGB and film in the 1950s' will appear in Andy Croft (ed) A Weapon in the Struggle: the Cultural History of the British Communist Party, Pluto, forthcoming, spring 1998.
