The Elevation Of Labour Reel 1 (1930)

Titles read: ’The Co-operative Productive Federation presents - THE ELEVATION OF LABOUR’. Reel 1. Foreword talks of the History of Labour being the history of man, and says the purpose of this film is to show the success of Co-operative Co-Partnership, and how some of the products of the Federation are manufactured. Title introduces the England of a century and a half ago, with the village the centre of social life. Scenic shots of countryside - houses, river, workers on farm fields. People in old-fashioned dress (1830s or 1840s?) ride along in open train carriages pulled by an early steam train. Smoking chimney signals industrial age. Windows of factory. Titles detail poor wages and conditions of factory workers at time. Actors recreate scene of boy and woman handing over bag of something to boss who gives them a few coins. The boys looks despondent and limps off with his mother. Factory workers coming out of building in shawls and ragged Victorian clothing. Well-dressed woman greets a man com