WORK PARTY

A slice-of-life documentary, presented by the wartime Ministry of Information, on the women of the Herrick family and their day’s work on production line machinery in a munitions factory In Britain. It begins with Mrs Herrick, and the three young children sharing her bed, rising, After clocking off, it’s a birthday party and dance for Mary Herrick. The day ends as it began with cups of tea. Concluding voiceover: “These are the women, typical of thousands, who make munitions and keep their family life going at the same time. And the munitions industry needs more women now.”

“Anticipating ‘cinema verite ́, WORK PARTY featured handheld camerawork and an unobtrusive, observational style.” - Encyclopaedia of the Documentary Film”, Ian Aitken, editor (Routledge, 2006).