Rank Organisation's: Look at Life - Cold War Jets DVD

Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Posts: 10

Not long pick-up DD Entertainment's compilation DVD Look at Life - Cold War Jets. For those of you that don't know Look at Life was a series of 11 minute shorts produced for theatrical release by the Rank Organisation for showing in thier cinemas - as such they were routinely shown in the newsreel slot and ultimatley replaced newreelss in Odeon and Gaumont cinemas from the '50s through to the early '70s. I have personally not seen any of this footage on the Discovery Channel or any of the cable channels.

I have been eyeing this up this DVD for a while and noticed recently that Simply Home Entertainment has recently dropped the price [possibly a pressage to deletion] hence, I dipped for it. Don't be put off by the naff and slightly misleading sleeve, its entirely wonderful and period.

http://www.simplyhe.co.uk/Shop/Aviation+DVDs/Cold+War+Aviation/122733+Look+At+Life+-+British+Cold+War+Jets.htm

I don't know why I held-off for so long, it is the most amazing visual reference, filmed in 35mm full colour and imaculately remastered for DVD.

The DVD Has 9 Look at Life featurettes:

Test Pilot (1960)

Effectively what puports to be a day in the life of test pilot Jimmy Dell as he flys various Mk's of Lightning - it is amazing reference for those building the machine.

Thunder in Waiting (1960)

Amazing and remarkable footage of Vulcan, Victor and Thor in stunnning colour - great for weathering detail of V Bombers in anti-flash white and the only colour film of Thor I have ever seen. Including a test firing of a RAF weapon from Vanderberg.

Flight Deck (1960)

Scimitar, Vixen, Gannet AEW and Whirlwind abound from HMS Hermes.

The Black Arrows (1959)

111 Squadron in training and in display - great footage of the all black Hunters

Back-Room of the Sky (1963)

Tons of period footage of esoteric machines flying with A&AEE, including Comet, Victor, Beverley, Havard and Vulcan.

Jumping Jets (1965)

Tripartate evaluation of Kestrel.

Skys the Limit (1963)

Various period display teams inc: The Firebirds, Red Pelicans and the Tiger Club.

Air Umbrella (1960)

Stacks of footage of various nations cold war defence machines including Starfighter, Javelin, Luftwaffe T-33, F-100 and Delta Dagger among others.

School For Skymen (1966)

Period documentry on RAF Cranwell, lots of Provost T. Mk 3.

This is an amazing DVD for Â£7.99 - the quality of film is of the highest order, its not crappy 8mm or the less well defined and detailed 16mm, and as such it definatley comes highly recomended.

Marty...