Featuring 40 films by such luminaries as Humphrey Jennings, Paul Rotha and Ruby Grierson, this collection is a major retrospective of the British documentary film movement during its period of greatest influence.

The diverse and compelling films contained here - many of which are made available for the first time since their original release - bear witness to the social and industrial transformations of a rapidly changing world.

This unique collection captures the spirit and strength, concerns and resolve of Britain and its people before, during and immediately after the Second World War. A companion collection, Shadows of Progress: Documentary film in post-war Britain 1951-1977, is also available on BFI DVD.

Special Features:

• Includes fully illustrated 96 page perfect bound book with contextualising essays on all of the films
• Includes interviews with some of the directors featured on the discs
• Includes a 15 minute film of John Grierson (the 'father' of documentary) at the National Film Theatre in 1959