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Title: train TO win

Reference number: 3838

Date: 1941

Director: filmed by Frank Marshall

Sponsor: [ Ministry of Labour (?)]

Sound: silent

Original format: 16mm

Colour: bw

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 15.08 mins

Description: A documentary film exploring the training and employment of women engineers during the Second World War. There are detailed shots of the actual machinery involved in safety precautions.

Credits: p. W.H. Denholm, C.W. Hancock, F.M.Marshall
ph. F.M.Marshall
Technical details supervised by W.H. Denholm, MIMechE, MIPE

"We wish to acknowledge the willing co-operation of all who have assisted in the production of this film" (credit at start).

Shotlist: ecs (0.30) c/u calendar, date is Monday 4th September 1939 (0.38) shot of schoolroom. male teacher with black gown leaves desk to check pupils' work (0.48) boy's pen and ink map of "Molnas" is set on fire by a Nazi swastika shadow superimposed on it (special effect) (1.00) gvs school now destroyed in wartime bombing. shots of rubble and school building being pulled down includes c/u caps still hanging on wall(1.37) young male engineers working (1.44) c/u of conscription letters (1.53) shot of marching boots (2.04) shot of young soldier talking to young woman and kissing her goodbye before boarding train (2.34) ints of male engineers working (2.42) shot of young woman looking sad as the train leaves the station (2.47) c/u of brick wall with "train to win" poster (encouraging women to join government training schemes and receive payment), woman stops to read it before entering Ministry of Labour Employment Exchange (3.06) young woman is interviewed (by female staff), and given leaflets about "training for War Work in the Engineering Industry", given a letter with a date to report for work (Poster with slogan "Freedom is in Peril Defend it with all your might" is visible in the background) (3.40) young women are instructed on how to dress safely for work, jewellery and hair must be out of sight (4.42) women are shown how to operate machinery safely. gvs of lathes, drills etc (5.47) ints busy canteen with food being served and women chatting (6.03) gvs of women at work in engineering factory, with safety messages about sensible footwear (7.09) shot of woman using drill punch. women are shown how to use measuring instruments effectively. shot of a display with examples of their work (7.42) woman is shown how to operate planing machinery safely (8.05) women learning technical drawing and mathematics in classroom (8.23) ints of engineering firm's office, two men discussing the need for more staff and arguing over whether to employ women from the government training scheme. (9.17) shot of man on telephone taking notes of staff required and leaving office (9.43) shot in office. c/u examples of metalwork engineered by women (10.32) gvs women at work, man impressed at standards (12.05) shot of men in office, employment for millers, planers and turners is secured (12.21) gvs women at work, learning to work safely (14.03) With training finished the doors of industry are open (14.08) shot of men and women entering engineering works and working side-by-side, women collecting pay cheque and smiling to camera (15.03) The End (15.08)