British Pathe

Full title reads: "Reviewing The Year 1949".
Intertitle reads: "As 1950 moves in it brings to the halfway mark the 20th century. The century of the common man. The century of the atom bomb. The century that in half its life span has already brought us two world wars. On the eve of its half century,...

Full title reads: "Reviewing The Year 1949".
Intertitle reads: "As 1950 moves in it brings to the halfway mark the 20th century. The century of the common man. The century of the atom bomb. The century that in half its life span has already brought us two world wars. On the eve of its half century, it found the free thinking nations putting their faith in strength to prevent a third".

GV dawn breaking over aerodrome. GV Capitol Building, Washington DC, United States of America (USA). SV Flags of Atlantic Pact nations. Signing of Pact by Count Carlos Forza, Ernest Bevin, Dean Acheson (watched by Alben Barkley and President Harry S Truman).

Scenes at the end of the Berlin blockade. Russian soldiers remove barriers and goods flow back to city. Riots are broken up in the West German city.

Chinese troops in Shanghai. British troops in Hong Kong. Big communist parade in Red Square, Moscow, Russia / Soviet Union. Joseph Stalin looks over the parade. Parade of troops in Yugoslavia. Marshal Josip Broz Tito watches.

Shots of Council of Europe meeting in Strasbourg, France. Paul Henri Spaak, Winston Churchill, Ernest Bevin. Bonn, Germany. General Sir Brian Robertson arrives for opening of Parliament. Konrad (Kurt) Adenauer speaks. East German parade, Wilhelm Pieck looks on.

Crowds in Piccadilly in London watch as neon lights and illuminations go on. Crowds watch Nimbus win the Derby horse race, ridden by Charles Elliot. Finish of the Derby. Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh spend time with the young Prince Charles. Wedding of Earl and Countess of Harewood attended by King George VI, Queen Elizabeth (later Queen Mother), Princess Margaret and Princess Royal.

Labour government Ministers meet at the Old Manor House at Shanklin, Isle of Wight, Hampshire. Ernest Bevin, Herbert Morrison, Aneurin (Nye) Bevan, John Strachey, Clement Attlee.

Rations are withdrawn on clothes and sweets. Children enjoy the ending of sweet rationing. Dockers go on strike in London. Goods have to be taken off ships by soldiers. Scenes of heat wave in England. People try to keep cool while others enjoy the beach at Blackpool, Lancashire.

American politician Governor Thomas Dewey and his wife pay a visit to Stratford on Avon. Various shots of Sir Stafford Cripps around devaluation. Industrial montage.

Scenes of the Smith Brothers after crossing the Atlantic in a small yacht. 18 year old Channel swimmer Philip Mickman.

Meteor aircraft breaks record by refuelling in the air. Shots of De Havilland Comet jet aircraft being tested by test pilot John 'Cat's Eyes' Cunningham. Test flights of Bristol Brabazon by pilot Bill Pegg.

Shots of the return of the HMS Amethyst and of the warm welcome for its crew.