The British Co-Operative Movement Film Catalogue

The British consumer Co-operative movement pioneered the use of film for industrial and propaganda purposes. A powerful association of working-class consumers the movement embraced the potential of cinema and used it to help articulate an ideology expounding the ideals of mutuality equality and democracy and seeking to transform a capitalist society founded on individualism and selfish-help into the Co-operative Commonwealth. This book provides an extensive detailed catalogue of more than 300 films relating to the movement. Technical details credits a synopsis and historical and critical evaluations are given for each title. Numerous films previously unknown or believed to be lost have been traced.The catalogue is prefaced by a substantial introductory essay which provides a contextual framework for a consideration of the movement and its use of film. The book is supplemented by a selection of articles publications and reports which appeared in the movement''s contemporary press and which reveal the genuine concern to use cinema to assist in the task of making Co-operators. This catalogue will be invaluable to students of social labor and business history and to film and media historians who wish to broaden their knowledge of non-commercial film. It also serves as a guide for contemporary filmmakers and television researchers to this extensive collection of archive film.