Waters of Time **** (1951, documentary) – Classic Movie Review 9444

Aerial view of Docklands in the 1951 black and white documentary short Waters of Time.

Basil Wright and Bill Launder’s 1951 black and white documentary short Waters of Time is a highly proficient and splendidly visual 1951 Festival of Britain celebration of waters of the Thames under the control of the Port of London Authority, from co-director Wright, the co-director of the classic 1936 Night Mail.

This tasty and informative representation of a vanished world is overflowing with nostalgic and historical interest, as it tells the story of a ship’s arrival in Docklands, unloading and departure from the Port of London.

A labour of love, it is imaginative, impressive and valuable, if not quite in the Night Mail class.

It is narrated by Paul Dehn.

It is sponsored by the Port of London Authority and produced for the Festival of Britain.

Waters of Time is directed by Basil Wright and Bill Launder, runs 37 minutes, is made by International Realist and Port of London Authority, is written by Basil Wright, Bill Launder and Paul Dehn, is shot in black and white by Reg Hughes, is produced by Basil Wright, and scored by Alan Rawsthorne.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9444

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