Fires Were Started

Fires Were Started
Directed by Humphrey Jennings
Produced by Ian Dalrymple
Written by Humphrey Jennings
Starring George Gravett
Phillip Wilson-Dickson
Fred Griffiths
Loris Rey
Johnny Houghton
T.P. Smith
John Barker
Music by William Alwyn
Cinematography C. Pennington-Richards
Editing by Stewart McAllister
Distributed by Crown Film Unit
Release date(s) 12 April 1943
Running time 80 minutes
Country  United Kingdom
Language English

Fires Were Started (1943) is a British film written and directed by Humphrey Jennings, filmed in documentary style showing the lives of firefighters through the Blitz in World War II. The film uses actual firefighters (including Cyril Demarne) rather than professional actors.

The film was also released under the title I Was a Fireman.

Contents

Production

Exterior shots were filmed on location. Interior scenes were shot at Pinewood Studios.

Critical reception

Film critics mostly praised the film for its realism and documentary value, despite its reconstructions. Dilys Powell, of the Sunday Times declared its authenticity to be 'moving and terrifying'.[1]

References

  1. ^ Winston, Fires Were Started, p. 66.

Bibliography

See also

External links