Millions Like Us (1943)

Categorised as a British World War II propaganda film this less known example is a superb work of morale-boosting films from mid World War 2. Well written and directed the film has a simple... 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, Gordon Jackson, Anne Crawford

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Patricia Roc	...	Celia Crowson
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
Amy Veness	...	Mrs. Blythe
John Salew	...	The Doctor
Beatrice Varley	...	Miss Wells
Bertha Willmott	...	The Singer

Storyline

Categorised as a British World War II propaganda film this less known example is a superb work of morale-boosting films from mid World War 2. Well written and directed the film has a simple story line based around the many women conscripted into industrial factory work in support of the home front war effort. It has a cast of many great actresses and actors recognisable to fans of films from this era. With much of the film appearing to be digitally restored this process adds an amazing timeless quality to the faces, fashion, modest hair and make-up styling, which is delightful in itself making the characters appear almost contemporary.

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Plot Keywords:

f rated | world war two | caldicott and charters | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 1943 (UK)

Also Known As:

Ceux de chez nous

Filming Locations:

Frobisher Hall, Swinnerton, 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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The fourth cinematic appearance of Charters and Caldicott, played by Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne. They previously appeared in The Lady Vanishes (1938) and Night Train to Munich (1940), films also written by Sidney Gilliat and co-director Frank Launder. They also appeared in Crook's Tour (1940), which was adapted from a BBC Radio serial. Although this was their final appearance as Charters and Caldicott, Radford and Wayne appeared together as similar comic characters in other films, such as Passport to Pimlico (1949).

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Goofs

Although Fred Blake (Gordon Jackson) is flight crew on a Short Stirling (the type of aircraft Celia makes parts for and which is seen being towed out of the factory), there are at least two shots of Fred's aircraft taking off/climbing which are actually an Avro Lancaster.

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Quotes

Phyllis: Did you pack my old swimsuit?
Celia: Yes, but it's shrunk.
Phyllis: Never mind - I'll get into it.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits - over archive footage: NOTE: The orange is a spherical pulpish fruit of reddish-yellow colour.

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Connections

References The Young Mr. Pitt (1942)

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Soundtracks

The Original Palais Glide
(uncredited)
Written by Will Grosz, Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Carr

User Reviews

keeping England's hopes up

One of the many war effort films Britain churned out between 1940 and 1945, this one attempted to get women recruited into industry. We watch Celia as she gets her call-up and has to leave her family to work in a factory and stay in a hostel. There she meets college graduate Gwen, flighty Sloane Jenny, and common as brass Annie, amongst others. She grows to like her job, and also finds love with a Scots flyer, Fred Blake. But this being a semi-documentary war film, things don't end up as happily as you'd hope.

The cast is fine - Patricia Roc and Gordon Jackson headline as Celia and Fred, with Anne Crawford as Jenny and Eric Portman as down-to-earth foreman Charlie. There's also a bit for Radford and Wayne to do (an amusing scene where their travelling soldiers in a railway carriage get overrun with evacuees). Megs Jenkins also plays Gwen with some style and pathos. Patriotic hokum it may be, but I like the foregrounding it gives to the women (especially Jenny, who I quite like by the end of it) and the respect it gives to the factory girls and what they did for their country.