158. Fires Were Started (1943)

Running Time: 80 minutes
Directed By: Humphrey Jennings
Written By: Humphrey Jennings
Main Cast: Philip Disckson, George Gravett, Fred Griffiths, Johnny Houghton, Loris Rey

I WAS A FIREMAN

Taking in a whole lot of long pictures recently, today I decided to take in something much shorter, in the form of "Fires Were Started", an eighty minute picture by Humphrey Jennings.

Jennings was a documentary filmmaker, however "Fires Were Started" really doesn't fall under the category of documentary, as it's actually a story, with acting and effects. The people doing the acting, however, aren't actually actors, but rather they are fireman with fictional names. The film takes place during one day in the lives of a fire company, during World War II and the "Blitz on Britain" via German bombers. The picture begins with a new recruit showing up to work, meeting his fellow firefighter brethren. The group go through their day, starting off slow, playing pool and singing songs, before the fire alarm rings and they're thrust into the heat of battle, as they wage war with the flames.

I don't want to drag this film down too much, as it was obviously made by a man who wanted to pay homage to the firemen and women who risked their lives during World War II, in an effort to keep the city from burning to the ground. However, it just didn't appeal to me. It baffles me that pictures like this are included in THE BOOK, when ten star movies are left out in the cold. It's also a head scratcher as to why THE BOOK feels the need to include something from every facet of motion picture making, rather than simply including the 1001 best films, in the author's opinion. I would not call "Fires Were Started" a MUST SEE picture and unless you're going on the same journey as me, or have an interest in World War II, the Blitz on Britain or firefighters and their role in the war, then avoid this film. The audio is bad, the "actors" aren't experienced and they do a lot of mumbling through their heavy cockney accents, so it's quite hard to understand them a lot of the time.

I will say, however, that it is a bit of an inspirational picture. It really shows you what these guys risked on a daily basis to keep their city from crumbling. It speaks on brotherhood, pride in country and soldiering through in the face of adversity. The scene where the company sings a song together, before going out to fight fires, is actually quite touching. How they're not afraid when the rumble of a nearby bomb hit shakes their building and cracks their walls and how they keep singing their songs and preparing for battle. I'll give it that much, at least.

RATING: 3.5/10  Can't go much higher than that folks. It's one that I feel shouldn't have been included in THE BOOK and actually a waste of a spot.


MOVIES WATCHED: 433
MOVIES LEFT TO WATCH: 568


April 26, 2012  9:37pm