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Fires Were Started

  • 1943
  • 1h 3m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
Fires Were Started (1943)
DramaWar

A tale of firefighters in London during the Blitz.A tale of firefighters in London during the Blitz.A tale of firefighters in London during the Blitz.

  • Director
    • Humphrey Jennings
  • Writer
    • Humphrey Jennings
  • Stars
    • Philip Dickson
    • George Gravett
    • Fred Griffiths
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    1.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Humphrey Jennings
    • Writer
      • Humphrey Jennings
    • Stars
      • Philip Dickson
      • George Gravett
      • Fred Griffiths
    • 17User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos10

    London Can Take It! (1940)
    Fires Were Started (1943)
    Fires Were Started (1943)
    Fires Were Started (1943)
    Fires Were Started (1943)
    Humphrey Jennings in Fires Were Started (1943)
    Listen to Britain (1942)
    Listen to Britain (1942)
    London Can Take It! (1940)

    Top cast

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    Philip Dickson
    • Walters
    • (uncredited)
    George Gravett
    • Dykes
    • (uncredited)
    Fred Griffiths
    • Johnny Daniels
    • (uncredited)
    Johnny Houghton
    • S.H. Jackson
    • (uncredited)
    Loris Rey
    • J. Rumbold
    • (uncredited)
    William Sansom
    • Fireman Playing the Piano
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Humphrey Jennings
    • Writer
      • Humphrey Jennings
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The firefighting scenes are reconstructions, not actual events. The director set fire to some already bombed buildings and the firemen demonstrated their methods of putting out a blaze.
    • Connections
      Featured in Bilder in Bewegung - Das Jahrhundert des Kinos: Typisch britisch (1995)

    User reviews17

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    A realistic drama documentary about the blitz.
    As in 'The Silent Village' Jennings is here experimenting with improvised dialogue (there was no proper shooting script) and an amateur cast (who were all serving London firemen). However, the result has been expanded into what is virtually a full-length drama.

    Again, there are haunting images. But the whole thing is played in such a low-key fashion that everything looks natural. (One of the fireman who took part said that it was an accurate representation - apart from the omission of the universal swearing!)

    The most famous scene is the group preparing for the nights work. Each enters to a verse of the old counting song 'One Man Went To Mow', which is being accompanied on the piano. How many will be left by morning?

    The film was released in two versions - hence the two titles. It was very well received, but eclipsed by the release of another (more conventional) film about the fire service called 'The Bells Go Down', starring the popular comedian Tommy Trinder. (This is not to disparage this feature film, which was also realistic in its approach.)
    helpful•14
    1
    • shrbw
    • Feb 3, 2002

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • April 12, 1943 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Начались пожары
    • Filming locations
      • Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Crown Film Unit
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 3 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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