From scenes of jubilant workers celebrating spectacular launches in the early 1900's to King George V and Queen Mary's morale-boosting trip to Northern England’s shipyards at the tail end of the Great War; from Sean Connery’s perspective on Glasgow's industrial relations in 'The Bowler and the Bunnet' (1967) - the only film Connery has ever directed - to lyrical documentaries in celebration of industrial might such as 'Shipyard' (Paul Rotha, 1935) and the Oscar-winning 'Seawards the Great Ships' (Hilary Harris, 1960), this collection charts Britain’s shipbuilding heritage through famous documentaries, little-known cinematic gems, and emotive actuality films.
The early silent films on this set feature newly commissioned, semi-improvised piano scores by the acclaimed film pianist, Stephen Horne.
This two-disc editions features the following films
Part 1
- The Launch of HMS Albion at Blackwall (E. P. Prestwich, 1898) - Employees Leaving Messrs Vickers and Maxim’s in Barrow (Sagar Mitchell & James Kenyon, 1901) - Workforce of Scott & Co. Shipyard, Greenock (Sagar Mitchell & James Kenyon, 1901) - The Launch of HMS Dominion (Sagar Mitchell & James Kenyon, 1903) - King Edward VII Launches HMS Dreadnought from Portsmouth Dockyard (1906) - SS Olympic (1910) - The Launch of HMS Lowestoft (1913) - Visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen to the North-East Coast Shipbuilding and Engineering Works on the Wear (1917) - Shipyard (Paul Rotha, 1935) - RMS Queen Mary Leaves the Clyde (1936) - Chains (1939) - Steel Goes to Sea (John E. Lewis, 1941) - Tyneside (W. Gordon Duncalf, 1941) - The Little Ships of England (1943) - Shipyard for Colliers (Peter Pickering, 1948) - Berth 24 (J. B. Holmes, 1950)
Extras - Interview with Sean Connery (1967, 10 min.) - previously unseen archive interview in which the actor discusses his views on labour relations, after making 'The Bowler and the Bunnet'
Full Version Available Upon Request
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