Sequence of shots of imperial images which illustrate farming (bananas, sheep and wheat) in the colonies.

Extract 2 (0.55)

Maps showing British dominions and the Empire.

Statistical information showing population of East and West African dependencies (45 million) compared to the number of imperial administrators (1200).

Extract 3 (1.19)

Sanders of the River (1935)

Extract from an 'imperial' film made by Alexander Korda. In the film, the Empire is a force for progress (development and change for the better). The British are shown as protecting the 'primitive' Africans.

Extract 4 (3.44)

Sequence of shots of George V and his son, the Prince of Wales.

Extract 5:

Prince of Wales' Tour of the Empire (1920s)

The prince is shown travelling around, meeting crowds of people who bow and wave. The impression is one of loyalty and unity. Horses, carriages and flags reinforce the pomp and ceremony of the occasion.

Extract 6 (5.14)

Sequence of shots of posters promoting the Empire. These posters show the 'Empire's Strength' used to sell products such as tea and rubber.

Extract 7 (5.35)

One Family (1930)

This extract is from a film made by the Empire Marketing Board to promote the Empire. In the film a young English boy is shown the origins of the ingredients of a Christmas pudding. In an extended dream sequence he is helped by goddess figures from each of the dominions to collect ingredients such as grapes and oranges.

Extract 8 (7.08)

Sequence of shots showing imperial troops marching and fighting.

Caption giving number of imperial troops in the Second World War (five million, two million of whom were volunteers from India).

Extract 9 (7.39):

India Marches (1941)

This extract is from a film sponsored by the Government of India and the Ministry of Information. The film was produced by Bombay Talkies, an Indian production company. It shows the training of the Indian Army Regiment, the 15th Punjab, and their fighting in Libya under General Wavell.

Extract 10 (9.27)

West Indies Calling (1943)

This extract is from a Ministry of Information film produced by Paul Rotha in 1943. It shows a BBC broadcast being made to explain to the British people the West Indian contribution to the war effort. The broadcast is compered by Una Marson, a Jamaican woman who had been one of Anthony Eden's private secretaries. This extract shows Flying Officer Ulric Cross, a bomber navigator who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Another contributor is Learie Constantine, a cricketer, who talks about industry.

Extract 11 (10.46):

Sequence of shots showing Japanese troops fighting in South-east Asia. Britain was unable to defend this area successfully and this showed its weaknesses.

Extract 12 (11.13)

The Fall of Singapore (1942)

The commentary in this extract made by the Japanese shows how jubilant they were to accept the British surrender in Singapore in their 'war of liberation'. The victory was highly symbolic for the Japanese who called it a victory of Asia for the Asiatic (that is, Asia for Asian people and not for others).

Extract 13 (12.51)

Sequence of shots of Churchill and American troops in South-east Asia. Churchill said, 'I did not become the King's First Minister to preside over the dismantling of the British Empire' (November 1942).

Extract 14 (13.15)

March of Time (1944)

This extract from an American cinema newsreel reveals anti-imperialism in America.

Extract 15 (14.08)

Sequence of shots of Lord Louis Mountbatten and information about India's independence.

Extract 16 (14.31)

Enthusiasm in New Delhi (1947)

This extract from a British newsreel shows crowds in New Delhi for the swearing-in of Mountbatten as the Governor General of the Dominion of India. The tone is optimistic and stresses the popularity of Mountbatten with the Indians.

Extract 17 (16.40)

Sequence of shots showing migration during partition of India and map showing partition and change of East Pakistan to Bangladesh.

Extract 18 (17.10)

Curfews in Delhi (1948)

This British newsreel shows scenes from Delhi during the massacres. It is nostalgic and imperialist in tone, with phrases like, 'the novelty of independence has worn thin – as the massacre went on the East was wistfully saying goodbye to the reign of the British.'

Extract 19 (18.08)

The film concludes with a sequence of shots giving statistical information about the British Empire: