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Film Winner In Italy

A 24-MiNUTE film on the life-boat service, Part-Time Heroes, won a silver cup presented by the Ministry of Naval Defence when shown this year at a review of maritime docu- mentaries during the Milan Fair.

The film shows a number of life- boats in action—the Porthdinllaen life-boat taking a fishing vessel in tow, the Falmouth life-boat going to the aid of a vessel on fire, the Walmer life-boat near the Goodwin Sands. Insights into the work of the Institution's head- quarters are also given.

Made by the B.B.C. and presented by them to the Institution, the film is in 16 mm. and is available for showing to non-paying audiences.

Part-Time Heroes is one of three 16 mm. films on the life-boat service which can be exhibited to non-paying audiences by arrangement with the R.N.L.I.

For Those in Peril traces the life of the famous Cromer coxswain, Henry Blogg, recreating his exploits with the aid of still photographs, film material, interviews with those who knew him best, and scenes of Cromer and its life-boat. The film lasts 40 minutes and was presented to the Institution by its makers, Anglia Television.

FIRST IN COLOUR Atlantic Launch portrays the life- boat station at St. David's, in Pem- brokeshire, the city in which it is set, and the members of the crew. The rescue of a fishing boat by the St.

David's life-boat is also shown. The 16 mm. film was given to the In- stitution by North German Television and lasts 20 minutes.

140 Life-boat Call is one of six 16 mm.

films which are available for showing to audiences of all kinds. The first film in colour to be made for the R.N.L.I., it was shot mainly at Southend-on-Sea.

Members of the Southend life-boat crew are shown at their day-to-day work then, when the alarm is raised, they are seen manning the life-boat and going to the rescue of two boys in a capsized dinghy. The film runs for iif minutes and was made by Excalibur Films with a commentary written by Duncan Carse.

Air Lift to Safety is a i6-minute film made by Dr. William J. Guild and shot in Scotland. It shows the Broughty Ferry life-boat and an R.A.F. helicopter combining in the rescue of an injured deck hand who is taken off a ship by the life-boat and then transferred to a helicopter which flies him to a waiting ambulance.

HOSPITAL SERVICE Life-boat Coming is also in colour, and was shot at Arbroath, Angus. It shows an injured man being landed from the Abertay lightvessel and illus- trates the co-operation which exists between the life-boat service, the coastguard and the hospital service.

The 12-minute film was made by Dr.

William J. Guild with the co-operation of the Research Film Unit of Edin- burgh University.

Shipshape, available in 35 mm. as well as 16 mm., depicts the behind- the-scenes work of repairing and re- newing life-boats at their stations, with stores sent from the R.N.L.I.

depot. It lasts five minutes and was made by Paul Rotha.

Appeal of the Life-boat Service, an- other five-minute production, is a film of the appeal on B.B.C. television broadcast on igth February, 1961, which was made by Wynford Vaughan Thomas. It shows the Lizard-Cadgwith life-boat crew and four people rescued by the life-boat who tell of their experiences. It was presented by the B.B.C.

The Village Turned Out, also avail- able in 35 mm., begins with the naming ceremony of the Coverack life- boat, then shows the crew going to the rescue of a training aircraft which has crashed into the sea. It was presented to the R.N.L.I. by the Shell Film Unit and the running time is eight minutes.

LESS RECENT FILMS Other less recent films, all in 35 mm. or 16 mm., are available on special demand. These are: Gale Warning (25 minutes), A Fisherman's Yarn (20 minutes), Boats That Save Life (seven minutes), Volunteers of the Life-boat Service (five minutes), The Tradition of the Life-boat Service (five minutes), Craftsmanship of the Life- boat Service (five minutes), Troubled Waters (six minutes, for non-paying audiences only)..