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Humphrey Jennings

Born: 19 August 1907, Walberswick, Suffolk
Died: 24 September 1950, Poros
  • Spare Time (1939) (1)

  • The Silent Village (1943) (4)

  • A Diary for Timothy (1946) (2)

  • The Dim Little Island (1948) (1)

  • Stills (2)

Born in Suffolk on 19 August 1907, Humphrey Jennings is widely considered one of Britain’s greatest documentary filmmakers, directing films which beautifully evoke everyday heroism in times of war and peace.

Highlighted works

The First Days

This very accomplished documentary is an evocation of the spirit of London during the early days of WWII.

The Eighty Days

This public information film details the bombardment of London and the Southeast by the terrifying V-1 flying bomb, known as the ‘doodlebug’, and outlines Britain’s defences.

Coal Face

This short but potent film is an official classic of the British documentary movement, and an ‘oratorio of coal mining’.

Filmography

1934
  • Locomotives Director
  • Post Haste Editor
  • Pett and Pott A Fairy Story of the Suburbs Sets
    [grocer]
  • The Glorious Sixth of June An Epic Of Human Endeavour []
1935
  • The Story of the Wheel Director
  • Coal Face [Additional Photography]
  • BBC The Voice of Britain [one of the witches in Macbeth]
1936
  • The Birth of the Robot [Colour Decor and Production]
1937
  • Farewell Topsails Director
1938
  • Design for Spring Director
  • Making Fashion Director
  • Speaking from America Director
  • Penny Journey The Story of a Post Card from Manchester to Graffham Director
  • English Harvest Directed by
  • The Farm Director?
1939
  • The First Days [Director]
  • Spare Time Director
    Scriptwriter
  • S.S. Ionian Director
1940
  • Spring Offensive Director
  • Welfare of the Workers Director
  • Cargoes Director
  • London Can Take It! [Director]
  • Britain Can Take It! [Director]
1941
  • Words for Battle Director
    Script
  • The Heart of Britain Director
  • This Is England Director
1942
  • Listen to Britain Director
    Editor
1943
  • The Silent Village Director
    Producer
    Script
  • I Was a Fireman Director
    Script
  • Fires Were Started Director
    Script
1944
  • The Eighty Days Director
    Producer
  • V. 1 Director
  • The True Story of Lili Marlene Director
    Script
    [lyricist]
1945
  • Myra Hess Director
1946
  • A Defeated People [Director]
  • A Diary for Timothy Director
  • Town Meeting of the World Opening Commentary
1947
  • The Cumberland Story Directed by
    [Screenplay]
1948
  • The Dim Little Island Director
    Producer
1950
  • Family Portrait Director
    Screenplay
1951
  • The Good Life Director of mountain sequence
1970
  • Heart of Britain [Subject of Film]
1985
  • Book Four[16/10/85] Subject of programme
2000
  • Humphrey Jennings: The Man Who Listened to Britain [Subject of Film]

Related articles

Humphrey Jennings: a memoir

By Nicole Vedres. From Sight & Sound magazine, May 1951.

Jennings' Britain

From Sight & Sound magazine, May 1951.

Humphrey Jennings: obituary

Humphrey Jennings: obituary

The kino club

John Grierson may have been first to coin the term, but the success of ‘documentary’ film depended on a pioneer generation of young enthusiasts, including Humphrey Jennings, Basil Wright, Edgar Anstey and Paul Rotha.

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