The last of a series of films about Britain from 1945 to 1951.
Memorial to the Future
The 1951 Festival of Britain is planned as a reward for austerity. As more and more people complain about regulations and rationing, the government hopes this national celebration will cheer up the nation.
'To me, it was an exciting event. I always thought of it as a memorial to the future. There was a whole lot of past one should turn one's back on and there was the beginning of something new.'
(BRIAN ALDISS)
The Festival brings the first glimpse of the new consumer age with TV sets on the never-never and red washing-up bowls.
With eight million visitors the Festival is a hit, but the last year of the Labour government is one of crises ... a dock strike, the Korean War, Cabinet resignations. A new-look Conservative
Party promising to 'set the people free' is waiting in the wings.
Film researcher
CHRISTINE WHITTAKER
Film editor CHRISTOPHER HALE Producer PETER GRIMSDALE Executive producer
ANGELA HOLDSWORTH