‘THE CITY OF SHIPS‘

Evening Star, Issue 23723, 2 November 1940, Page 5

‘THE CITY OF SHIPS ‘

Coincident with the outbreak of the war a new film—‘ The City of Ships ’ — portraying the activities of the Thames tideway and the dock systems of the Port of London, was completed. ‘ City of Ships ’ was produced for and in conjunction with the Port of London Authority, and having regard to the immense shipping traffic of London the selection was a particularly happy and appropriate one. “ This film.” writes a London commentator, “ intended for propaganda in happier times, is almost a model of good photography and skilful editing. It could easily have been dull, but there is so much change of scene and continual movement that it sustains the interest.

“ Officials of the P.L.A. helped in the production, and I heard about some of the ‘ fun ’ they had getting their sound effects. “ One shot is of bloodstock on the quay awaiting shipment to South Africa. The producers decided that at least one of these horses should neigh. Well, you can take a horse to the water, but you can’t make him neigh! Grooms rattled feed pails till their arms ached, and couldn’t produce a single response.

“So it was decided to do without this sound effect. No sooner did they begin to pack up, however, than one of the horses obliged, then another! Fortunately the sound man was able to record the second neigh.”