Chains (1939) - extract

This promotional film commissioned by wrought-iron chainmakers Noah Hingley and Sons (based in Netherton in the West Midlands) shows the labour-intensive work needed to make the heavy chains, hooks and anchors used in shipbuilding, and the equally arduous process of testing the end product's soundness and rigidity. Although made in 1939, it's a silent film, an indication of its low budget independent origins. You can read more about the film at http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/1406283/index.html

The complete film, with music by Stephen Horne, is included on the new BFI DVD 'Tales from the Shipyard', featuring over five hours of documentary film revealing the history of British shipbuilding with many rare and little known titles: http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/info_18719.html

'Selections from This Working Life: Tales from the Shipyard will be shown in cinemas at BFI Southbank, Newcastle's Tyneside Cinema, Glasgow Film Theatre and Belfast's Queen's Film Theatre, presenting newly restored feature films, non-fiction and television material - all captured by filmmakers across a century. Read more at http://www.bfi.org.uk/shipyard/

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• BFI National Archive
• Tales from the Shipyard
• silent
• documentary
• iron
• forging
• shipbuilding
• chain
• links
• anchor