Her Father's Daughter

1941
Sound
8m

Women on the factory floor? An engineer needs convincing that war work is a feminine pursuit.

This propaganda film uses comic actor Alastair Sim to help recruit women into war work. With men away fighting, the crisis in weapons production meant that women were drafted in to take their places. But many women were put off by the idea of factory work and films such as this one tried to convince them that they could help their country by playing a key role in the war effort.

WWII at the Pictures

Once the cinemas were declared open for business, the film industry kept the reels turning, serving up a mixed diet of news, morale-boosting propaganda and uplifting entertainment.

In the early days of the war, cinemas were closed as a public safety measure, but authorities were soon persuaded of film's many virtues in wartime. Newsreels kept spirits up and relayed vital information, documentaries rigorously explored every aspect of life and work on the home front, and an array of animations and short films imparted practical tips and guidance.

Feature films, meanwhile, offered equal parts inspiring wartime stories and escapist fantasy to bring relief from everyday trials. And with gender roles evolving and so many men away from home, producers were forced to pay more attention (long overdue!) to the tastes and interests of women cinemagoers - with fascinating and enduring results.