The Crown Film Unit was an organisation within the British Government's Ministry of Information during the Second World War; until 1940, it was the GPO Film Unit. Its remit was to make films for the general public in Britain and abroad. Its output included short information and documentary films, as well as longer drama-documentaries, as well as a few straight drama productions.

Music was an important element. The conductor Muir Mathieson was the director of music for many productions, and notable composers commissioned to write original scores included Walter Leigh, Benjamin Britten, Ernst Meyer, Richard Addinsell, Benjamin Frankel, Christian Darnton, Guy Warrack and Arthur Benjamin.[1]

The Crown Film Unit continued to produce films, as part of the Central Office of Information (COI), until it was disbanded in 1952.

Notable productions

Title Year Notes
Royal Scotland1952Oscar-nominated documentary
Mary's Birthday1951Animation by Lotte Reiniger
Out of True1951Directed by Philip Leacock
Daybreak in Udi1949Directed by Terry Bishop, Oscar-winning documentary
School in Cologne1948Directed by Graham Wallace, short film in the British Zone of Germany
Worth the Risk?1948British road safety public information film
Instruments of the Orchestra1946Scored by Benjamin Britten, later published as The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
A Defeated People1946Directed by Humphrey Jennings, filmed in Occupied Germany
A Diary for Timothy1945Directed by Humphrey Jennings, written by E. M. Forster, featuring Michael Redgrave, Dame Myra Hess and John Gielgud
Two Fathers1944Directed by Anthony Asquith, written by V. S. Pritchett, starring Bernard Miles and Paul Bonifas
Western Approaches1944Docufiction directed by Pat Jackson, Crown Film Unit's first Technicolor production
The Silent Village1943Directed by Humphrey Jennings
Before the Raid1943Directed by Jirí Weiss, written by Laurie Lee
Fires Were Started1943Directed by Humphrey Jennings
The True Story of Lili Marlene1944Directed by Humphrey Jennings, featuring Marius Goring and Lucie Mannheim
Coastal Command1942Directed by J.B. Holmes
A Letter From Ulster1942Directed by Brian Desmond Hurst
Listen to Britain1942Directed by Humphrey Jennings, featuring Dame Myra Hess and Flanagan and Allen
Malta G.C.1942Directed by Eugeniusz Cekalski and Derrick De Marney, narrated by Laurence Olivier
Target for Tonight1941Directed by Harry Watt, winner of Special Award Certificate from AMPAS
The Heart of Britain (also known as This Is England)1941Directed by Humphrey Jennings, narrated by Edward R. Murrow
Men of the Lightship1940Directed by David MacDonald
Musical Poster Number One1940Written and directed by Len Lye

References

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