Ships with Wings (Trailer)

1941
Sound
2m

A trailer for Ealing's wartime drama "Ships with Wings", an all-star actioner about the Navy's Fleet Air Arm.

A two-minute taster of a stirring wartime feature, from Ealing Studios. John Clements, Michael Wilding and Michael Rennie star as three flying aces called into action on the eve of WWII. They're joined by a stellar cast, including Leslie Banks, Jane Baxter and Ann Todd, for a very British take on action, love and adventure in the Royal Navy's aircraft division.

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.