Millions Like Us (1943)

When Celia Crowson is called up for war service, she hopes for a glamor job in one of the services, but as a single girl, she is directed into a factory making aircraft parts. Here she ... See full summary »

Directors:

Sidney Gilliat, Frank Launder

Writers:

Frank Launder (an original screenplay written by), Sidney Gilliat (an original screenplay written by)

Stars:

Patricia Roc, Eric Portman, Gordon Jackson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Patricia Roc	...	Celia Crowson
Eric Portman	...	Charlie Forbes
Gordon Jackson	...	Fred Blake
Anne Crawford	...	Jennifer Knowles
Moore Marriott	...	Jim Crowson
Basil Radford	...	Charters
Naunton Wayne	...	Caldicott
Joy Shelton	...	Phyllis Crowson
John Boxer	...	Tom
Valentine Dunn	...	Elsie
Megs Jenkins	...	Gwen Price
Terry Randall	...	Annie Earnshaw
Amy Veness	...	Mrs. Blythe (as Amy Vaness)
John Salew	...	The Doctor
Beatrice Varley	...	Miss Wells

Storyline

When Celia Crowson is called up for war service, she hopes for a glamor job in one of the services, but as a single girl, she is directed into a factory making aircraft parts. Here she meets other girls for all different walks of life, and begins a relationship with a young airman.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to robert donat | f rated | world war two | caldicott and charters | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

First film of Joy Shelton.

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Goofs

When Fred and Celia try at first to enter the country pub there is a large Canadian soldier standing inside near the door, but when they finally do enter with the camera now filming from inside the pub the soldier blocking their way is no longer there.

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Quotes

Jim: What's in these sausages is a mystery. An' I 'ope it ain't solved in my time...

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Crazy Credits

[Credits for leading actors] -and millions like you-

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Connections

References The Young Mr. Pitt (1942)

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Soundtracks

No More
(uncredited)
Written by Harry Leon and John Rivers

User Reviews

More than mere propaganda

To modern sensibilities the title may sound patronising, but if you're tempted to dismiss this as standard WWII propaganda fare, think again. Set among the female workforce of a heavy engineering factory, this perceptive and thoughtful screenplay explores the disruptive effect of Total War upon family life, established behavioural norms and, crucially, the class distinctions that were still dominating British society at this time. As Time Out critic Nigel Floyd put it: "Raises pertinent questions about what exactly was being fought for: the restoration of the old order, or the foundation of a new one? Intelligent entertainment at its best."

It is also unusual for the era in its unabashed portrayal of young women as actively sexual beings with a healthy, even predatory, interest in men. The sole - and glaring - exception to this model is the central heroine, Celia. Patricia Roc's portrayal of her is so overwhelmingly timid, self-effacing and prudish, it comes as little less than miraculous that she manages to bag Fred: a young Airman in the shape of Gordon Jackson. Mind you, he's no firebrand either: together, they make an infuriatingly ineffectual couple.

Far more interesting is the spiky relationship of social opposites Jennifer (Anne Crawford) - privileged/haughty/indolent - and no-nonsense factory foreman Charlie (Eric Portman). In this pair's uneasy mutual attraction and verbal sparring we see echoes of Shakespeare's Beatrice & Benedick.

N.B.: Watch out for a lovely cameo by Irene Handl as the newlyweds' landlady.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 1943 (UK)

Also Known As:

Ceux de chez nous

Filming Locations:

Frobisher Hall, Swynnerton, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gainsborough Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (BAF Sound System)

Color:

Black and White (archive footage in opening scenes) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1