THIS FILM IS DANGEROUS
Full length video
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Title: THIS FILM IS DANGEROUS
Reference number: 0166
Date: 1948
Director: d. Ronald Haines
Sponsor: The Admiralty
Production company: British Documentary Films Limited
Sound: sound
Original format: 35mm
Colour: bw
Fiction: non-fiction
Running time: 19.48 mins
Description:
A naval instructional film showing how to care for nitrate film stock and what to do in the event of fire.
35mm nitrate, now preserved by the BFI National Film Archive. National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive holds a 16mm print made from the original nitrate.
Credits:
ed. Ronald Haines
comm. Frank Philips
animation and art work Charles Noble
Naval Instructional Film
Commentary by Frank Philips
Animation and art work by Charles Noble.
Shotlist: Credits (1.02) inside a projection box and a fire starts in the magazine while operator is away. Within minutes, the fire is out of control and operator is admitted to hospital with burns (3.02) explanation of the dangers of nitro-cellulose film and a series of demonstrations of the different fires. An extinguisher will douse flames, but cannot stop decomposition and the emitting of toxic fumes, which are liable to re-ignite. Several different types of extinguishers are demonstrated - none successfully and asbestos blanket is also inadequate (8.33) the only effective Appliance is demonstrated, but even then, the gas-water extinguisher is only effective if the fire is caught within 10 seconds (9.54) projection box - demonstration of safety equipment and regulations for use (12.50) some of the main causes of film fires demonstrated and their prevention (15.37) transport of nitrate film - "Prevention is Better than Cure" (16.18) the wrong and right ways to deal with a fire in the spool box. Precautions in Rewind Room (18.10) demonstration of 20 reels of nitrate on fire (18.52) summary of precautions to be taken and best methods of prevention (19.48)