a TURKISH PRISONER OF WAR CAMP

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: IWM 4).

Synopsis

The prisoner of war camp at El Maadi (or Heliopolis ?) in Egypt for Turkish other ranks prisoners, 1917 (?).

Views of the camp, showing that "prisoners have ample room for exercise". The prisoners' band of mandolins, violins and drums plays to an audience of prisoners in the open. Prisoners help to unload a ration wagon. Prisoners march "to their dinners" across the compound. The "shower baths and washing places". A wrestling bout staged for entertainment between two of the prisoners, while others watch. Half way through this is speeded up (for comic effect ?) by undercranking the camera. The same audience watches two prisoners dancing. The film ends with two prisoners kicking a football about.

Notes

Summary: the appearance of the camp is consistent with descriptions of both El Maadi and Heliopolis, but closer to the first.

Remarks: fairly mild propaganda, consistent with the British approach of 'the propaganda of facts' in handling prisoner of war subjects which can be seen in IWM 436 and IWM 441.

 

Titles

  • a TURKISH PRISONER OF WAR CAMP
 

Technical Data

Year:
1917
Running Time:
15 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
35mm
Colour:
B&W
Sound:
Silent
Footage:
894 ft
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
GB
Sponsor
War Office Cinema Committee (?)
cameraman
Hurley, Frank (?)
cameraman
Jeapes, Harold (?)
Production company
Topical Film Company (?)