Description

This collection of COI films looks at British justice in the 1940s and 1950s. Highlights include: ‘Children on Trial’  (1946), an approved school drama; ‘Youth Club’ (1954), which proposed a solution to keeping Britain’s young people out of trouble; ‘Help Yourself’ (1950), a no-nonsense crime prevention film; ‘Man on the Beat’ (1956) and the Dixonesque ‘British Policeman’ (1959).

Full description from the producer:

The Central Office of Information (COI) was established in April 1946 and has produced thousands of films that reflected the culture and concerns of the nation. Volume one of the COI collection tackles crime, juvenile delinquency, policing and the justice system. A variety of styles and genres – story documentary, drama, public information shorts – are employed to deliver crime prevention messages and bolster recruitment in this area. The wonderful selection of films on this two disc set have been newly transferred to high definition from the original film elements. An accompanying booklet provides comprehensive notes and essays from academics and film historians.

Additional information