 Majesty and Might of London, cradle of the culture which unites the English-speaking world. The gentle countryside of the land Shakespeare called this blessed isle, the storybook cottages, the villages carved from the past which dot and dignify the landscape, the warmth and richness of country life with its strong traditional flavor, its sense of continuity, its quiet enduring values, the variety of British life, the sounds, the sights. This is the great Britain that lies waiting for you to discover and to enjoy during your tour of service here. The special magic that Britain casts and always has on civilized men is yours to experience. You will feel the pull of British history for its marks and its monuments are all around you. And pageantry rooted in the past is carried forward and laced into the routine life of the present, the pomp and the ceremony, the stately institutions. All are part of an epic tale which for a thousand years has been Great Britain's story, a history which has paced the progress of Western man, a history rich in beauty and grandeur, crowded with spectacle and martial glory and with the dreams of mighty kings. But history is above all the story of people, their character, their spirit. The English have exerted a force on a modern world stronger perhaps than that of any other group and yet they live and always have on an island barely the size of Minnesota. Indeed it is this fact which in part accounts for the direction in which their history moved. For the English people locked in by the sea, turned to the sea for new markets, for new lands, to find wealth and in the doing to carry civilization around the globe. Britain's navies and her merchant fleets became the wonder of the world and from their power and in the wake of their path grew an empire on which it once was said the sun could never set. Men such as Lord Nelson whose life stories are linked with the sea and the spreading of the empire are among the most illustrious names in Britain's long line of heroes. Today's Britain is a product of that history but the history itself has changed its course. New states have been created out of England's far-flung possessions. The empire is no more. It's swept away with the tides of the time and the world is a far different one for all of us. Great Britain is united with the U.S. and other free nations of the West in an alliance to preserve peace in the world by blocking communist aggression and to that end to ensure free world strength and readiness. She permits us as her partner to maintain and operate a number of United States bases on British soil and this of course is why you watching this film are in Great Britain today. Now in order for you to do your job to the best of your ability and in the process to reflect credibly upon your country and enjoy your time it is important that you get along here and that's what this film is all about to help in your introduction to British life. There are no special magic rules for getting along here or anywhere else. The rules of common sense are what apply. First of all it seems reasonable wherever you are to look for similarities and in Great Britain there are many more perhaps than any other country England is like the United States in basic attitudes and beliefs. You will find this similarity everywhere beginning with the strong religious tradition which underpins her national life and the freedom of religion evidenced in the houses of worship of all faiths. The similarities between our political systems are evident in the regard they show American leaders whose ideas have leaped across oceans. You may also see a certain similarity at least on the surface between the famous pub and the corner bar in the cities of America. The pub which is practically an institution in Britain is something like the stateside corner bar only more so. It's more like a friendly club a neighborhood gathering place where men can meet to share the quiet pleasures of a glass of beer and conversation where nothing is hurried a little world all soon. Chances are you'll enjoy it but in full fairness let it be said that in spite of all the similarities there are differences between the British and us they're bound to be differences you know don't imply either superiority or inferiority they're just separate ways of doing things. You'll become aware of them and perhaps be disturbed at first by some of them. I think these British are kind of hard to get to know well it seems so at first until you've been here a while maybe they are a bit more reserved than we are but there's a reason for it after all there's 50 million people on this little island that's enough to make anyone respect privacy is old and everyone else that's about it sergeant but you'll find that the British respond to friendliness in much the same way we do. I think I'll ask these guys if I can play darts. In their quest for privacy the British make the very most of it they can. The garden is the Englishman's traditional refuge and practically every Englishman has one which he tends with pride and care. Behind the mansions of the rich and the cottages of the modest alike bloom lovely oases in which life is all discipline and color and a man can live at least for a while out of the crowded day close to the nature he reveres. His home is his castle however grand or however modest it may be and here as in his garden he creates a sense of order the respect for tradition and continuity for values which have endured for generations for family ties and the belief in the home as the central unit of civilization is a major influence in British life you may find yourself a guest in such a home and when you do you should treat the occasion with the dignity it deserves for an invitation to a man's castle is not lightly given but even here as you relax in the strong similarities you are finding between British life and your own you will be reminded of differences small but inevitable where's your home bill well I grew up in Cambridge sir did you really I grew up in Cambridge too you did you mean you've lived in the States oh no father means our own Cambridge we have one here too maybe a bit older than yours would you like anything more what do you know no thanks I'm fine can I help you now mother not just now thank you do I'll let you know I'd be glad to help with the beating if I can the beating thank you I can manage I used to do it all the time for my mother before we got the electric mixer electric mixer yes it makes it much easier does it indeed father thinks that if he ever went to America he would see one vast gadget factory electric beaters I wonder what they do to the food the traditional British reluctance to acquire gadgets and mass produced items is not as strong as it once was you may still encounter it occasionally however but don't let it mislead you British ingenuity has long pioneered in some of the basic industries Britain remember set the pace in jet aviation radar television British workmanship has produced and is still producing some of the finest manufactured items in the world but let's get back to the subject of differences though they obviously will intrigue you most of all at first take money now we'll make no bones about it the British currency system is a nightmare for the American the basic unit is the pound the equivalent of two dollars and 80 cents every pound is divided into 20 shillings worth about 14 cents a piece half a shilling is a six pence then there is a two shilling piece and a half crown which is worth two and a half shillings a preference is half a six pence there are 12 pence or pennies to every shilling and half a penny is called a hate me and half a pound is a 10 shilling note the prices are also given in terms of guineas a coin which doesn't even exist but which is worth 21 shillings all clear good next subject language we share a common language with the British but there may be times when you don't believe it I think it's important sir could you tell me if there's a hardware store in the neighborhood an hardware store sir oh you mean the ironmongers I do I want to buy a garbage can a garbage can sir now I think you'll find it's a dustbin you're after well sir you um you keep to the near side down to the bottom of the footpath right round the roundabout and then it's just past the bull you can't miss it sir but differences you know can be exaggerated out of all proportion consider the British teapot poor overworked symbol of misconception and an appropriate illustration of how exaggeration can distort reality and the simple truth is the British like tea most of them and they down a fair amount of it each day but to repeat differences can be exaggerated out of all proportion there's nothing in the British approach to tea drinking to justify the wild exaggerations prevalent in so much American folklore you know the picture people chattering like squirrels while they swill and nibble in a ceremonial ritual as stylized as the tango be ashamed not to meet them they're such enjoyable figments of the imagination but they don't exist whatever you may have thought and the part of England they represent is on the far side of the moon misconception growing out of unfamiliarity is of course a two-way street you may not have thought of it that way but listen no any yanks yes one or two like them well yes rather nice enough chaps take a bit of knowing though now we may not think that we're so hard to get to know but from the British point of view well permit an Englishman to sit in your seat and see how bizarre some American customs and habits might seem through his eyes particularly in exaggerated form and not only sights but sounds too remember we are discussing the difficulties of understanding English as the English speak it but consider what an Englishman might think of this conversation come on daddy this buzz cool it man let's cut that quick no wait oh sweat man we'll split although the British are a sports loving people there are many things they don't understand about our games listen for example to how one English reporter describes the great American pastime of football men in brightly colored helmets like the crew of a spaceship rushed on and off the field play seemed to be a mixture of conjuring slight of hand and human skittles and was constantly stopped by the referees the stoppages provided the fun pretty girls leapt up and down in a sort of Maori war dance to stir up the crowd shouting how do you like your oysters roar roar roar strategy is evidently based on this assumption nobody knows who's got the ball so to be safe knock down everybody in sight the biggest pile of bodies indicates where the ball is to soften the effect of differences that do exist and to help you adjust to life in great Britain is a task taken on by the community relations advisor whom you will meet on the base for your station the community relations advisor a woman is a British civilian appointed and employed by the British government but working on the staff of the US commander a C.R.A as she is called is stationed at each of the major American bases throughout the United Kingdom she is there for your convenience and benefit her job is to provide a link between US personnel and the local British community in which they are based she can and will assist you in many ways she will find out your interests and those of your family your particular needs whatever special problems you might have with this she can help you smooth your way into the British community in which you'll be living advise you on any difficulties you might encounter and how to surmount them she will provide you with information on Britain where to go what to see how to get there and other items of interest that'll be useful to you during your time here as part of their effort to make the US airmen's adjustment easier the community relations advisors in Britain have made an informal survey of the problems which servicemen encounter most frequently we might call them gripes the British however are somewhat more restrained in their vocabulary the shortage of suitable housing emerges as the number one problem on just about every list and all the things that are said about this problem we're joking you know please bear that in mind the situation is not anywhere near as bad as all this but a humorous approach makes the point better as you Americans say and the point here is that not all the flats and houses offered are as ancient and unmanageable or as haunted as the tower of London oh this is discouraging you bear any more of it oh dear this poor chap is having a frightful time of it isn't it now joking aside let's look at the housing situation seriously for a moment Britain is building feverishly to catch up with the population figures which have grown so rapidly in the last several years and at the same time to replace the millions of our homes that were destroyed or damaged during the war there's a long way to go yet but progress is being made and we do want you to find a nice place to live in while you're here we'll be delighted to help in any way we can driving on the left side of the road and the right side of the car is another thing which can confuse Americans it all can be so bewildering to newcomers confusion particularly at first is understandable but if you're going to drive it is extremely important that you get to know the rules immediately and observe them every time you're in a car traffic safety is a very big problem here especially among Americans who aren't used to our driving customs and regulations it's a problem which worries your commanders and our authorities alike he's learned his lesson please learn yours an easier way keep to the left guess what another problem is the weather Americans don't seem to like it very much they find it too wet too often it's reasonable enough that people might become annoyed by the weather but now really there's not a great deal we can do about it is there and anyway to tell you the truth some of us don't care much for it either you'll find in great britain as in every free society strong differences of opinion expressed over many things particularly when you go to hide park where the mallocontents have full sway you'll hear points of view ranging from crackpot to radical or both but we need in this country is a little more talk about peace and let's talk about war that you hear all the time in these western imperialistic countries let's close our like in russia i suppose you said it i didn't you said it like in russia you would rather be red than dead i suppose that happens to be my motto made you hit it right there i'd rather be red that's a view in the kremlin have your way that disagreements are not always so violent but you will find that the britain takes his personal point of view seriously and he will defend it volumely it's best to avoid getting into arguments if you can but if your opinions are solicited in a way in which it would be rude not to give them weigh your statements thoughtfully taking care not to intrude into what might be strictly a british matter and while we're on this subject you might be asked from time to time to explain some aspect of american life even questions which might be considered touchy or embarrassing but it's not likely that your questioner will intend to be rude he probably is really interested so the best policy is to answer all the questions you can as honestly and as frankly as you can despite their day-to-day differences most british people by far are united in basic things such as their respect for the crown and their fundamental bone deep belief in democracy for england is after all the world's oldest democracy and of all her glorious traditions free government resting on the rights of the people is the most sacred these beliefs are the source of the british determination to defend with vigor its way of life and resist any attack upon it king john is generally credited with democracy's introduction into the modern world 750 years ago when he signed a document which in guaranteeing certain rights of noblemen became the basis of the idea that the rights of the people themselves can be guaranteed by the state he was pressured and persuaded john was by men who perhaps had no conception of the extent of the force they were unleashing in the world but history cares little for that only that the magna carta endured to become the touchstone of democracy as we know it today you can see this precious document yourself if you visit the british museum in london see it and feel odd in the presence of an idea born centuries ago in english mines on england soil which has had so much a hand in shaping you and your own beliefs and traditions all there is much in britain to thrill and awe you great monuments of great ages past bidding you welcome such as the stately westminster abbey and if you go inside you can visit the ports corner where you will be reminded of the rich heritage of literature which england has given us all men who glimpse some abiding truth about man and life recorded it in words that live forever poets such as the immortal shakespeare spoke for their own time all ages after them about the human condition what else can you do in britain well do is the british do become a soccer fan the cup finals may never quite replace the world series in your affection but you won't be bored whether you're a horse racing fan or not you're likely to be entranced by the show put on by the bookies chances are however that you'll become a racing enthusiast british people of all classes are and there are many colorful tracks to accommodate them and plenty of excitement to satisfy them ish love sports they have all kinds for all seasons take advantage of as many as you can it's a great way to swing into the life of any country their interests are scholastic too you will enjoy visiting the great universities quiet serene but alive with intellectual ferment mind of england as its hallowed ceremonies are its long living memory its history is all around you telling in stone and spirit the tales of a noble adventure which produced a race of kings and the proud and sturdy people whom you will meet in britain today bring to your experience with them the qualities of fair play in which we americans take pride remember that it's their land and their way of life and we are transits passing through respect their rules and their customs look for the similarities which unite us and the differences will diminish the glory of britain will open to you and your life will be richer