Directed by: Basil Wright, Harry Watt, John Schlesinger

Night Mail(1936) The classic 1936 documentary on the London to Scotland Postal Special, a steam train express hauled by the mighty "Seaforth Highlander" engine. This train carried no passengers but was manned entirely by the Post Office workers who sorted mail on board as postbags were received and dispatched at various mainline stations throughout the night. The train also picks up and drops mail 'en route' while travelling at hight speed. Including lineside shots, footplate action and a driver's eye view, Night Mail also features the classic W.H. Auden poem of the same name recited by the author himself. The poem and some powerful images are combined with a moving score by Benjamin Britten to provide a unique literary and visual masterpirce. One of the best and most influential of British documentaries, Night Mail was made by Basil Wright and Harry Watt under the auspices of the legendary John Grierson.

Terminus (1961) Against a backdrop of arriving and departing trains and emotional reunions and fond farewells, this fly-on-the-wall documentary captures all the activity of a day in the life of one of London's busiest railway termini. Platform scenes feature the long distance steam-hauled expresses and suburban E.M.U.'s (Electric Multiple Units) of the time. Behind the scenes action reveals the workings of the signalbox, the lost property office and the station masters office, the very hub of the mammoth operation that is Waterloo Station. Set against an atmospheric tapestry of sounds ranging from the announcements of station destinations long since closed to the hiss and puff of arriving and departing trains, is an upbeat musical score by Johnny Dankworth. This richly evocative portrait from the closing days of the golden age of the steam train launched its director, John Schlesinger, into his prestigious feature film career with the release of the box-office smash A Kind of Loving a year later.

Technical Details

Certification: E
Duration: 54 mins
Cat. No: DD730(DD HOME ENTERTAINMENT)
Category: Documentaries & Biographies:Documentaries, General

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