The Bells Go Down (1943)

Director:

Basil Dearden

Writers:

Stephen Black (novel)
Roger MacDougall (writer)

Release Date:

17 May 1943 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

Comedian Tommy Trinder plays it straight in this tribute to the wartime AFS (Auxiliary Fire Service)...

Plot Keywords:

Ealing | Firefighting | London England | WWII | Based On Novel

Cast

Tommy Trinder	...	Tommy Turk
James Mason	...	Ted Robbins
Philip Friend	...	Bob
Mervyn Johns	...	Sam
William Hartnell	...	Brooks (as Billy Hartnell)
Finlay Currie	...	District Officer McFarlane
Philippa Hiatt	...	Nan
Meriel Forbes	...	Susie
Beatrice Varley	...	Ma Turk
Norman Pierce	...	Pa Robbins
Muriel George	...	Ma Robbins
Julian Vedey	...	Lou Freeman
Richard George	...	P.C. O'Brien
H Victor Weske	...	Peters
Leslie Harcourt	...	Alfie Parrot
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ralph Michael	...	Dunkirk survivor
Frederick Piper	...	Police Sgt
John Salew	...	Landlord
Charles Victor	...	Dunkirk survivor
Grace Arnold	...	Canteen lady (uncredited)
Alfie Bass	...	(uncredited)
Lesley Brook	...	June (uncredited)
Frederick Culley	...	Vicar (uncredited)
Stanley Escane	...	Choirboy (uncredited)
Leo Genn	...	Off-screen Narrator (uncredited)
Stanley Lathbury	...	Verger (uncredited)
Andreas Malandrinos	...	Mr. Vanetti (uncredited)
Peter Noble	...	Auxiliary fireman (uncredited)
Johnnie Schofield	...	Milkman (uncredited)
Ben Williams	...	Head Of The Rescue Squad (uncredited)

Directed by
Basil Dearden

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Stephen Black		novel
Roger MacDougall		writer

Produced by
Michael Balcon	....	producer
S.C. Balcon	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Roy Douglas

Cinematography by
Ernest Palmer

Film Editing by
Mary Habberfield

Art Direction by
Michael Relph

Production Management
John Croydon	....	production supervisor
Jack Hicks	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Muriel Cole	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Madge Nettleton	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Cyril Pope	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Billy Russell	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jim Morahan	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Mary Habberfield	....	sound editor
A.D. Valentine	....	sound recordist
Eric Williams	....	sound supervisor
Ken Foster	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roy Kellino	....	special effects
Cliff Richardson	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Gerald Gibbs	....	camera operator (as G.Gibbs)
Cecil R. Cooney	....	camera operator (uncredited)
H. Julius	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Eddie Orton	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Hugh Wilson	....	clapper loader (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Sidney Cole	....	supervising editor
Leslie Allen	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Ernest Irving	....	conductor

Other crew
Olga Brook	....	continuity (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Ealing Studios

Distributors

• Associated British Film Distributors (ABFD) (1943) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1943) (USA) (theatrical)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company:

Ealing Studios

An excellent record of the courage of fire-fighters during the London "Blitz" in 1940

The film is set in London during the "Blitz" in 1940. The story follows Tommy Trinder's character from his enrolment in the Auxiliary Fire Service, through his training and eventual fire-fighting duties during air raids. The style of the film now appears very dated but is a fascinating snapshot of the period. Trinder's acting is a little wooden, the special effects are crude but it provides an excellent historical record of the courage and high esteem in which London's fire-fighters were held and the tasks they faced during the period.