British Pathe

c. 1939

A film appealing for donations to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. The film shows children who are receiving treatment at the Hospital.

L/S of children in a field picking flowers. Closer view shows the children in their underwear and hats picking buttercups. Voiceover...

c. 1939

A film appealing for donations to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. The film shows children who are receiving treatment at the Hospital.

L/S of children in a field picking flowers. Closer view shows the children in their underwear and hats picking buttercups. Voiceover states that "these little cripples adore it. They enjoy the freedom and sunshine which is warming their twisted limbs." C/U of the children holding flowers. "Sunshine and happiness are the two chief medicines at the hospital." A nurse carries one of the children and the others walk slowly behind. They walk through the gates of the hospital. Some of the children have their legs in plaster. The hospital is located at the top of Brockley Hill in Stanmore. Panning shot of the hospital buildings. Interior of the hospital "look at the children having dinner."

C/U panning shot of a child walking along holding a plate. C/U of another child who it sitting outside in the sun eating. C/U of a child sitting in a hospital bed eating. Another child is spoon fed by a nurse whilst he or she is lying horizontal in bed. A group of three children sit at a table and eat. Various shots of children in cots in the open air. M/S of a group of nurses walking in front of the hospital buildings. "Co-operating with the surgeons is Doctor Sun." The narrator speaks of how being in hospital isn't necessarily all bad. "There is nothing dreadful about Stanmore." Three children play "catch" in the sunshine. C/U of a girl sitting reading a magazine - she smiles at the camera. Two girls play ball as they sit on their hospital beds. Others sleep in she sun - we see children lying on beds in their underwear. C/U of a baby smiling. Various shots of a little girl having a plaster put onto her leg. The London branch of the hospital is in Great Portland Street. M/S of an ambulance which has the name " The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital" painted on the side drawing up in front of a hospital building. A child looks out of one of the ambulance windows. The back doors of the van are opened and a group of five children walk up the steps into the hospital. A young girl is carried out of the ambulance on a stretcher. Another girl is carried into the hospital. Interior - the Outpatient's Hall. Many patients sit and wait for an appointment.

The gymnasium is shown - remedial exercises are undertaken. Massage and heat treatments are also given. M/S of a young girl being fitted with splints. Wounded ex-servicemen make instruments and boots in the hospital workshop. Various shots of "happy healthy children" playing in the sea and on a beach. We then see a girl who is "walking for the very first time in her life" with the aid of special equipment supplied by the hospital (splints and a back brace).

Narrator states: "If you have contributed to the fund then you have helped her to walk. If not, please can you help?" The address of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital is then shown on screen.

Note: the film's voiceover is spoken by a woman. She has a very posh and plummy accent and sounds rather like a young Queen Elizabeth II.

Please note that the date 01/01/1939 is not correct but has been kept in for databasing reasons.