Public service broadcasting night mail

A classic!

"Night Mail" is a 1936 British documentary film directed by Harry Watt and Basil Wright, produced by the General Post Office (GPO) Film Unit. The film is a poetic and lyrical portrayal of the night mail train journey from London to Glasgow, Scotland.

The film features a narration by John Grierson, a Scottish poet and filmmaker, who wrote the script and provided the voiceover. The narration is a beautiful and evocative poem that captures the essence of the night mail journey, describing the train's passage through the darkness, the sounds of the engine, and the rhythms of the postal workers as they sort and deliver the mail.

The film is notable for its innovative use of cinematography, which captures the beauty of the night landscape and the industrial processes of the postal service. The film's black-and-white cinematography, shot by Robert Flaherty, is particularly striking, with its use of high-contrast lighting and deep shadows to create a sense of drama and mystery.

"Night Mail" is considered a landmark of British documentary filmmaking and has been influential in shaping the genre. It has also been praised for its poetic and lyrical style, which has been compared to the work of French Impressionist filmmakers such as Jean Epstein and Dziga Vertov.

The film has been preserved and restored by the British Film Institute and is now considered a classic of British cinema. It continues to be celebrated for its beauty, its innovative filmmaking techniques, and its poetic portrayal of the night mail journey.