This film is part of Free
Something to Offer
An interesting documentary on psychiatric provision, set at a Plymouth day hospital and originally produced for nursing recruitment.
Overview
Filmed at a Plymouth day hospital, this is a consistently interesting documentary on mental health and psychiatric services. Commissioned by the DHSS as a psychiatric nursing recruitment tool, it started life in a version called On Hand to Listen. Something to Offer is a shorter edit intended for television: it was broadcast by ITV, serving both the recruitment campaign and a broader public education remit.
The film was made by Samaritan Films – nothing to do with the Samaritans but an independent production company whose specialisms included social issues films commissioned by charities and government. That the film so easily transferred to TV illustrates a trend in sponsored documentary film that was growing: to borrow from TV technique. Its low-key, sober but warm and fluent style, marked by Peter Jessop’s mobile 16mm camerawork and a mixture of observation and interview, is very reminiscent of television documentary. It captures a time of great change in psychiatry, moving away from stand-alone mental institutions to integration with general hospitals and what was later termed care in the community. This all said, its perspective on the subject is, as its government paymasters would have wished, ultimately promotional rather than critical.
Related
Plans for Living Plans for Living
Amateur film 1966 22 mins
The Pinner Cine Society looks at the work of Northwood's welfare services.
Rehabilitation at Roffey Park Rehabilitation at Roffey Park
Government sponsored film 1946 29 mins Location: Roffey Park (College)
Looking after the mental health of workers post-World War II – filmed in astonishing full colour.
His Fighting Chance His Fighting Chance
Government sponsored film 1949 10 mins
Eleanor Roosevelt and Michael Redgrave narrate this optimistic post-war film on the rehabilitation of disabled people with polio.
Beware of Pity Beware of Pity
Drama 1946 102 mins
A romantic drama in which an Austrian Lieutenant befriends a disabled Baroness.
Education of the Deaf Education of the Deaf
Documentary 1946 51 mins Location: Manchester
A brisk look at the tests and education practices for deaf people in 1940s
Faith Healer Faith Healer
News 1976 6 mins Location: Erdington
Does Danny Gallagher really have healing hands?
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.