About this season
Look at Life was a regular British series of short documentary films of which 507 were produced between 1959 and 1969 by the Special Features Division of the Rank Organisation for screening in their Odeon and Gaumont cinemas. The films always preceded the main feature film that was being shown in the cinema that week. It replaced the circuit's newsreel, Universal News, which had become increasingly irrelevant in the face of more immediate news media, particularly on television with the launch of ITN on the Independent Television service, which began broadcasting in parts of the United Kingdom in 1955.
Episodes (50)
41. Driving Test
Aired 1 January 1960
A practical guide to passing the driving test first time.
42. Under The Rocket
Aired 8 January 1960
The rocket launch site at Woomera, Australia.
43. Healing Hands
Aired 15 January 1960
Deals with the advances made in surgery and anaesthetics and the activities of the Royal College of Surgeons.
44. Shape Of A Ship
Aired 22 January 1960
The construction of the liner Canberra.
45. Running Dry
Aired 29 January 1960
Prolonged drought means many emergency measures and temporary expedients to ensure that at the turn of a tap, water is still available.
46. Model World
Aired 5 February 1960
A look at various model villages, including Bekonscot.
47. Air Hostess
Aired 12 February 1960
48. Gibraltarâs New Day
Aired 19 February 1960
A tour of Gibraltar.
49. Student Nurse
Aired 26 February 1960
A young nurse on night duty reviews her training in various departments, as well as the pleasant social life accompanying it, and considers pay, conditions and opportunities open to her.
50. Bottle Party
Aired 4 March 1960
The manufacture, uses and disposal of bottles.
51. In The Swim
Aired 11 March 1960
A film on tropical fish, both as a hobby and as ornaments.
52. Taxi! Taxi!
Aired 18 March 1960
The development of the London taxi cab.
53. Thunder In Waiting
Aired 25 March 1960
Visit to a RAF base in East Anglia; shows Thor rockets and Vulcan bombers.
54. The Wind Of Change
Aired 1 April 1960
Deals with the rapid and ceaseless changes in the social and political life of Africa.
55. Four Men Down
Aired 8 April 1960
Deals with the thrills and dangers of bobsleighing on the Cresta Run.
56. Breaking Cover
Aired 15 April 1960
The pros and cons of fox-hunting.
57. All Through The Night
Aired 22 April 1960
Factual picture of the lives of Britainâs truckers, that is, lorry drivers.
58. Over And Under
Aired 29 April 1960
A look at bridges and bridge building in Britain.
59. Under The Hammer
Aired 6 May 1960
A look at various auctions and the job of the auctioneer.
60. Safe In The Boat
Aired 13 May 1960
Britain leads the world in safety at sea. Nevertheless work is going on all the time to ensure greater safety in the years to come.
61. Ten Pins Down
Aired 20 May 1960
A look at the sport of ten-pin bowling.
62. Glamour Girls
Aired 27 May 1960
This film is about the thousands of girls who earn their living as fashion models, and the thousands more who would like to.
63. A Piece Of Cake
Aired 3 June 1960
The sport of parachuting.
64. Top People
Aired 10 June 1960
The high-rise construction building in London including the Barbican centre.
65. A Year For A Day
Aired 17 June 1960
The commercial and economic organisation for Christmas.
66. I Protest
Aired 24 June 1960
A look at some protesters in Britain, including the Aldermaston marchers, Speakerâs Corner and people demonstrating against aircraft noise.
67. Return To Arms
Aired 1 July 1960
The new German army as developed under the auspices of NATO.
68. Smashing Through
Aired 8 July 1960
The sport of stock car racing.
69. Submarine
Aired 15 July 1960
A look at the submarine HMS Narwhal and its preparations for sea.
70. Testing Time
Aired 22 July 1960
The work of the British Standards Institution.
71. Horse Power Riders
Aired 29 July 1960
Experts prove that safety on a motorcycle stems from control of the machine. It also describes the many aspects of motorcycling today.
72. Rebirth Of A City
Aired 5 August 1960
The reconstruction of Coventry.
73. Brains Unlimited
Aired 12 August 1960
How the schools and colleges of today are measuring up to the demands of the world of tomorrow.
74. Power For Africa
Aired 19 August 1960
The opening of the Kariba Dam.
75. Shopping By The Ton
Aired 26 August 1960
A visit to Smithfield Market, Covent Garden and Billingsgate, at their busiest time, the early morning.
76. Wheel Power
Aired 2 September 1960
A look at bicycling.
77. Towns By Design
Aired 9 September 1960
78. Fairs Please
Aired 16 September 1960
A look at fairs in Britain and Ireland.
79. Rocket-Age Lancers
Aired 23 September 1960
Shows the cavalry regiment of the 9th Queenâs Royal Lancers at work and recreation.
80. Keeping Fit
Aired 30 September 1960
Shows the different ways in which people in Britain strive for physical fitness.
81. Solent Saturday
Aired 7 October 1960
Yacht racing in and around Southampton Water.
82. Ringing The Changes
Aired 14 October 1960
A look at the traditions of bell-ringing and bell-making in England, including the history of the latter and the processes involved in making different-sized bells at foundries - from large
83. Saturday Fever
Aired 21 October 1960
The film takes a look at the phenomenon of Saturday football fever. It captures the atmosphere which unites multitudes of perfect strangers on a thousand pitches every week.
84. Out For A Catch
Aired 28 October 1960
Takes a look at angling - both coarse and fly fishing - and also at some of the problems facing fish in rivers from modern features such as hydro-electric dams and pollution.
85. Air Umbrella
Aired 4 November 1960
Work and organisation of NATOâs Second Allied tactical Air Force which forms part of a vigilant air umbrella over Europe.
86. All Their Own Work
Aired 11 November 1960
An item covering how the inhabitants of the Cotswold town Moreton-in-Marsh decided to save on the rates when the town, in the middle of a beauty spot, needed doing up, and do the repairs
87. Holiday - With Pay
Aired 18 November 1960
A film taking a look at students and the types of summer jobs they get to earn money during the summer vacation. It begins by concentrating on one particular student from Cambridge University
88. Women In Green
Aired 25 November 1960
An account of the work and organisation of WVS in Britain.
89. Roman Invasion
Aired 2 December 1960
Long before the era of the Italian coffee bar there was the ice-cream man, the organ grinder, and the cafe owner. Before them there were the invaders of 2,000 years ago.
90. Making A Meal Of It
Aired 9 December 1960
Timed to appear on the 150th anniversary of the birth of the canning industry, deals with the modern methods for the protection, preservation and packaging of food.