Look at Life Vol 2: Military

[ORAC]

FYI, just seen advertised. Available 27th June.

Look at Life Vol 2: Military

The Look at Life releases compile series produced in the 1950s and 60s by the Special Features Division of the Rank Organisation, screened in their Odeon and Gaumont cinemas. A fascinating snapshot of life in mid-20th century Britain, with many unseen since their first screening. This second volume is the definitive collection of 45 restored military short films, including such classics as The Black Arrows, Test Pilot, The Sky's The Limit and Girls Ahoy.

[BEagle]

More info. here, with acknowledgments to the Network DVD site:

Look at Life was a regular series of short documentary films produced in the 1960s by the Special Features Division of the Rank Organisation and screened in their Odeon and Gaumont cinemas - replacing the circuit’s newsreel, Universal News, which had become largely irrelevant with the advent of television news broadcasts. Marvellously concise and beautifully shot, these ‘slice of life’ colour featurettes – numbering over 500 episodes in total – presented cinemagoers with varied aspects of contemporary British life.

Digitally restored from the original film elements, this volume presents 45 memorable films offering fascinating insights into varied aspects of British military life, with many unseen since their first screening. From the Black Arrows’ daring acrobatics to military survival techniques and from sea mine clearance to the valour of Victoria Cross holders - this exceptional three disc set features coverage of significant military achievements from throughout the 1960s.

The Black Arrows
The acrobatic team who performed daring manoeuvres in jets capable of more than 700mph.

Ceremonial Soldier
As we see, the sentries at Buckingham Palace are still highly efficient soldiers.

Soldier Abroad
A soldier’s life at the HQ of the Third Royal Tank Regiment in Detmold, West Germany.

Under the Rocket
Life at the rocket range in Woomera, Australia, through the eyes of a young REME corporal and his wife.

Thunder in Waiting
The deadly cargo of the Vulcan Bomber is a crucial part of Britain’s deterrent force.

A Piece of Cake
A film about the parachutists of the RAF.

Return to Arms
A study of the new West German army.

Submarine
A glimpse of life and work in a submarine.

The Rocket-Age Lancers
Looking to the future with the 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers.

Air Umbrella
A look at NATO’s international squadrons, with footage of the F104 Starfighter.

Flight Deck
The aircraft carrier is now the nerve centre of any large naval operation.

Pipeline
Refuelling both in the air and at sea.

Girls Ahoy!
Formed in wartime, the Women’s Royal Naval Service is still going strong.

Survival
A look at survival techniques with Peter Whittingham and RAF expert Jock Wishart.

Muscle Men
A fast-moving film with enough vigour to prove that muscle and brawn still count!

Action This Day
The tough training of the Royal Marine Commandos – some of Britain’s finest fighting men.

Char and Wad
The work of the NAAFI – from Kuwait to Gibraltar, Germany to Cyprus.

Test Pilot
A look at the RAF Lightning, supersonic watchdog of Britain’s skies.

Rendered Safe
A look at the work of a bomb disposal squad.

The Last Battleship
The life and death of HMS Vanguard, and the uses to which her steel will be put.

Amphibian
A look at the DUKW and other amphibious military craft.

Turning Blades
The world of the helicopter in 1962; from the Belvedere to the experimental Rotodyne VTOL craft.

Plumbing the Depths
A film showing the importance of surveying the world’s seas and oceans.

Golden Wings
A look at various aircraft, including the Blackburn monoplane, the Sopwith Pup and the Hart.

The Black Watch
The Queen Mother visits the Black Watch on the banks of the Tay.

Girls of the Air
The girls behind the men who fly: members of the WRAF.

The Sky’s the Limit
Aerobatics, born of necessity in World War I, now form part of the RAF’s training.

Forward, March!
The infantryman is the indispensable soldier of the British Army.

Doctor On Call
A look at a remarkable flying doctor service based near Kuala Lumpur.

Trouble-Shooters
A film showing Britain’s trouble-shooters, the Royal Marines, in Sarawak.

Under One Umbrella
The story of how three fighting services were united under one command – the MOD.

The Price of Valour
An insight into the lives of some of the holders of the Victoria Cross.

The Jet Folk
We see the impact of the United States Third Air Force, stationed in Britain.

Drummers of the Queen
A look at the little-known Junior Guardsmen’s Company.

The Flying Soldier
A look at helicopter training within the British Army.

The Cherry-Pickers
Following the 11th Hussars from Hanover to Coburg.

Jumping Jets
The revolutionary vertical take-off capacity of the RAF Kestrel.

Air Lift
How transport command of the RAF keeps Zambia’s economy alive.

Down to Earth
Following WRAF girls as they trek into the jungle.

East of Suez
More than 50,000 British soldiers, sailors and airmen police the rivers and jungles of Borneo.

School for Skymen
A glimpse into the world of the RAF College at Cranwell.

Moving Day
How the headquarters of NATO was moved from France to Belgium.

Free Fall
The story of the Falcons – free-fall professionals.

Jumping for Joy
The story of the Royal Green Jackets Skydiving Team.

Underwater Menace
Dealing with the hazardous legacy of World War II.


All from the days when the UK could afford Armed Services of a reasonable size....:\

So, get yourself some Butterkist popcorn (I recommend the 1/6d bag), some Kia-Ora orange juice, run the Pearl and Dean 'Asteroid' music:

cxU6LT6DonE

then sit back and enjoy a good nostalgic wallow - perfect for a wet weekend!

[Tallsar]

Things to grab the attention.....

50k joint service troops in Borneo...wow....now that was an expeditionary capability except that it was actually based in the region!

Transport command keeping Zambia alive.....those were the days when people realised TC airlift assets had true mil utility to influence events rather just be seen as troop transports in to Theatre and back.

Vulcan....thunder!....when we had a strategic bomber force!

Woomera...before we gave up UK built ICBM capability...as well as space!

The aircraft carrier....the nerve centre of any operation...WHOOPS Mr Cameron!!!

And finally...good old NAAFI..when it's was a world wide taste of home!

:ugh::{:{:{:{:(

[ian16th]

BEagle and ORAC

Many thanks for that!

I've ordered it in the hope that it features ME! :cool:

Rank visited 214 Sqdn at Marham to feature the flight re-fuelling, it was shown at the Marham Astra but I was on leave at the time and never did see the movie.

[BEagle]

Well, my copy arrived today. Well worth the price!

I've only watched Disc 1 so far - but what a contrast between the proper UK Armed Forces of those days and the emaciated, under-resourced, overstretched organisations of today.....:mad:

[Kitbag]

Surely this should be over in AH&N, all the young thrusting warriors on this thread won't like being told they are in a failing, shrinking and irrelevant service by a bunch of us oldies who have no idea :hmm:

[Paul C]

I purchased a copy of this DVD on recommendation of the other posters and would like to say a big 'thank you', I have watched all 3 discs and have not been disappointed.
Regards Paul

[ian16th]

Mine has arrived in this Southern Colony :ok:

On Disk 1, the item titled 'Pipeline', brought back many happy memories, from a long lost youth :{

Faces I remembered and one name! Sqdn. Ldr John Garstin is highly visible, but uncredited. His, at the time, recent record breaking flight from Butterworth to Marham is mentioned, but not the fact that he was the captain.

In general the commentary is very 'cringeworthy', the video quality is very good, and I'm enjoying the DVD's and heartily recommend them to any others of 'a certain age'.

[ian16th]

I have found a 'quality' problem with these DVD's and overcome it.

The problem is that attempting to fast forward or reverse fails, apparently because of read errors.

To overcome this problem I have copied the original DVD's on my PC, with software that detects read errors and retries the read function and writes the DVD to my hard drive and then writes out the DVD image to a blank DVD-R.

Strictly speaking this is probably an infringement of copyright, but having paid my money, I expect a readable set of DVD's.

The software that I have used is called 'DVD Shrink' and available for free download from: dvdshrink.org: FREE Backup Solution for your DVD movies! (http://www.dvdshrink.org/)

If anyone needs any further info, please PM me.

[Senior Pilot]

I have found a 'quality' problem with these DVD's and overcome it.

The problem is that attempting to fast forward or reverse fails, apparently because of read errors.

Maybe you should get one of these?

http://mediahora.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/dvdrewindervs4.jpg

[ian16th]

Which way does it spin?

Remember I'm in the Southern Hemisphere :rolleyes:

[BEagle]

I've just been watching Look at Life Vol1: Transport.

How different (and perhaps more civilised) we were in those days.....

Some of the incidental scenes are very telling - virtually all cars are British, passengers wore jackets and ties to travel by air, immigration had made very little impact even by 1969.....

A couple of contemporary road schemes were frankly barking though - a double bore tunnel under Bath and a multi-level plan for Picadilly Circus?

Back to Vol 2 though - our Armed Forces really are a mere shadow of the strength they were back then. I hate to think what further cuts will be inflicted once the current north west frontier operation ends.....:\