Look at Life

Season 1964

Look at Life was a regular British series of short documentary films of which 507 were produced between 1959 and 1969 by the Special Features Division of the Rank Organisation for screening in their Odeon and Gaumont cinemas. The films always preceded the main feature film that was being shown in the cinema that week. It replaced the circuit's newsreel, Universal News, which had become increasingly irrelevant in the face of more immediate news media, particularly on television with the launch of ITN on the Independent Television service, which began broadcasting in parts of the United Kingdom in 1955.

Where to Watch Look at Life • Season 1964

58 Episodes

  • Fings are Getting Smaller
    E1
    Fings are Getting SmallerTaking a look at how everything is being reduced in size in the new compact age.
  • Salute the Engineer
    E2
    Salute the EngineerMore and more engineers are needed to keep pace with developing industry; this film offers a glimpse of the wide range of jobs they undertake.
  • So Much Flattery!
    E3
    So Much Flattery!Few realise how far the art of imitation has developed. Synthetic furs and jewellery, artificial flowers and copies of great paintings, ‘marble’ made of laminated plastic, and that most quotidian of imitations – artificial teeth.
  • Having a Baby
    E4
    Having a BabyA look at the medical and social services available for both hospital and home births.
  • Power Needs No Passport
    E5
    Power Needs No PassportStretching across Western Europe is a network of electric power stations, linked by the transmission lines that span a continent. This is the story of an ever-present problem: Europe’s increasing need for electricity.
  • Wealth Under the Sea?
    E6
    Wealth Under the Sea?A trip to the North Sea to follow the search for oil.
  • By Bread Alone
    E7
    By Bread AloneA look at what is happening in the baking industry as scientists try to find out why bread doesn’t keep fresh longer and to solve the problem of staleness.
  • Turn of the Wheel
    E8
    Turn of the WheelA look at what is happening to the old trains and buses that are being replaced.
  • City of the Air
    E9
    City of the AirA look at the many aspects of London Airport with a focus on BOAC and BEA airlines.
  • Behind the Ton-Up Boys
    E10
    Behind the Ton-Up BoysA reflection on the nearly two million motorcyclists in Britain.
  • Going Places Under Water
    E11
    Going Places Under WaterThe world's first underwater sightseeing bus.
  • Living with Cars
    E12
    Living with CarsAnalysis of what is being done to cope with the increasing number of cars on our roads.
  • Flying to Work
    E13
    Flying to WorkThe increasing number of private planes and helicopters in Britain's airspace.
  • Forward, March!
    E14
    Forward, March!The infantryman is the indispensable soldier of the British Army.
  • Doctor On Call
    E15
    Doctor On CallA look at a flying doctor service based near Kuala Lumpur.
  • Trouble-Shooters
    E16
    Trouble-ShootersA film showing Britain's trouble-shooters, the Royal Marines, in Sarawak.
  • Under One Umbrella
    E17
    Under One UmbrellaThe story of how three fighting services were united under one command - the MOD.
  • The Price of Valour
    E18
    The Price of ValourAn insight into the lives of some of the holders of the Victoria Cross.
  • The Jet Folk
    E19
    The Jet FolkWe see the impact of the United States Third Air Force, stationed in Britain.
  • Drummers of the Queen
    E20
    Drummers of the QueenA look at the little-known Junior Guardsmen's Company.
  • The New Australians
    E21
    The New AustraliansA trip to Australia to see how the country is coping with its large intake of immigrants.
  • Men of the Snowy
    E22
    Men of the SnowyFew migrants have ever found a more spectacular role than the men working together on Australia’s vast project to harness the waters of the Snowy River.
  • Singapore is Youth
    E23
    Singapore is YouthA look at a modern, forward-looking Singapore.
  • Off the Sheep’s Back
    E24
    Off the Sheep’s BackAustralia has 15 times more sheep than people, with wool providing nearly half of the country’s export earnings. But how does Australia envision its future?
  • Constant Hot Water
    E25
    Constant Hot WaterA film looking at the volcanic zone of New Zealand, and the hot water it produces.
  • Tide on the Turn
    E26
    Tide on the Turn This film looks at the economic and social impact of foreign industrialists in the Irish republic.
  • Malta Milestone
    E27
    Malta MilestoneWith the demise of the great naval dockyard, Malta has sought new ways to generate income...
  • In the Kart
    E28
    In the KartThe film that captures the thrills and excitement of miniature motor racing, or karting, in Britain.
  • Over My Shoulder
    E29
    Over My ShoulderThis film looks at the self-defence training given to women police officers, and also coves three traditional Japanese martial arts: judo, aikido and kendo.
  • Women with Leisure
    E30
    Women with LeisureA look at the popularity of ten-pin bowling, particularly amoung women.
  • Rulers of Racing
    E31
    Rulers of RacingLook at Life goes behind the scenes to take a closer look at how the Jockey Club works.
  • Under Your Feet
    E32
    Under Your FeetBeneath your feet is a little-seen world; this film reveals the labyrinth of London sewers, an Alladins cave of silver, and the G.P.O's unique Tube Railway.
  • The Silent Change
    E33
    The Silent ChangeA film capturing the 800 years of pageantry and ceremonial that attends the induction of a new Lord Mayor of London.
  • Sign Posts of the Sea
    E34
    Sign Posts of the SeaA fascinating look at the lighthouses and light ships around Britains coast.
  • The City's Built for Shooting
    E35
    The City's Built for ShootingA look at the cities that are constructed for the world of cinema, featuring trips to Pinewood and Sheperton.
  • New Universities
    E36
    New UniversitiesA look at 7 new universities at the time of the biggest expansion in the history of university training in Britain.
  • Rag Time
    E37
    Rag TimeLook at Life explores the world of students' rags in Manchester, Hull, Sheffield and Leeds.
  • The Golden West
    E38
    The Golden WestA film exploring the buried wealth beneath the soil of Cornwall. From its famous tin mines to the flourishing industries built on Granite, Stone and China Clay.
  • For Crying Out Loud
    E39
    For Crying Out LoudPromotion and marketing are the crafts behind all our trades; between them, they drive the wheels of business. Here is a fascinating survey of the advertising industry.
  • Stone Age
    E40
    Stone AgeWelcome to a new Stone Age! This film explores the revival of interest in British stone, and meets the people using it for decoration, building and renovation work.
  • Ups and Downs
    E41
    Ups and DownsA look at a range of demolition jobs, from felling industrial chimneys to removing whole blocks of condemned property, pulling up railway lines and blowing up old bridges.
  • Spuds Galore
    E42
    Spuds GaloreLooking at the potato market and how research is still going on to find the perfect specimen.
  • Money in the Slot
    E43
    Money in the SlotA film looking at the decline in the numbers of street salesmen, and the growth of the vending machine industry.
  • The Other Film World
    E44
    The Other Film WorldThis Look at Life explores some of the many industrial applications for film, and the many ways in which it is used as a tool in man's search for knowledge.
  • Chairbound
    E45
    ChairboundA visit to the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville showing what happens after patients become paralysed and how they learn a new way of life.
  • Glorious Mud
    E46
    Glorious MudThe story of mud in our lives, from the motorcyclist and sports car enthusiasts contending with it to the men who dig out fuller's earth for industry.
  • Instant Homes
    E47
    Instant HomesThis shows how the conveyer belt idea is being applied to building houses and flats in Britain today, with the result that a multi-storey block of flats can now be completed in less than six months.
  • Do it Yourself
    E48
    Do it YourselfThe trend is to do it yourself; here are some of the less usual do-it-yourself jobs: a Sussex school teacher who built an 11ft. sailing boat in his kitchen and started a small industry; a radio telescope; a driving school - for driving coaches and carriages run by one family, and a garage.
  • Who Wants a Statue?
    E49
    Who Wants a Statue?A look at the statues of the past and the statuary of today - some of which is not only completely unorthodox but actually moves by electricity ad magnetism.
  • Donkey Work
    E50
    Donkey WorkDonkeys are becoming increasingly popular in Britain today; a donkey auction; a donkey out shopping; and a donkey race meeting.
  • What's on the Roof?
    E51
    What's on the Roof?New roofs are being made of new materials to put to various uses from sun bathing and car parking to helicopter landing stages, but traditional roofing crafts still continue.
  • Calling the Tune
    E52
    Calling the TuneA survey of the growth in musical interest in Britain, with a look at a music school and the plight of modern classical composers.
  • Keeping in Touch
    E53
    Keeping in TouchAids for the blind range from simple mechanical devices to complicated electroni cones. How the newly blind learn to use them to overcome their disability.
  • Crossing the Channel
    E54
    Crossing the ChannelStudy of the aspirants to crossing the Channel by swimming, and the fate of those who've made the attempt in the past 40 years.
  • Tax Haven
    E55
    Tax HavenHow does Jersey manage to pay its way with the lowest taxes in the British Isles Survey of life in Jersey
  • One for the Road
    E56
    One for the RoadLooks at the problem of drink-driving and the number of road accidents caused by this.
  • Old School Tie
    E57
    Old School TieA feature looking at the traditions of public school education at Eton, Winchester and Gordonstoun.
  • Blood and Fire
    E58
    Blood and FireA feature about the Salvation Army today, looking at the lives and training of officers and members

 

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