In both big films and small, the British film industry spent much time during the war years exploring the daily battles fought on the “Home Front” by housewives, factory workers, and others. The propaganda purpose of the five-minute Night Watch was to celebrate the work of civilians serving as wardens with the ARP (Air Raid Precaution) services, keeping watch over the skies and a population likely to ignore regulations if given half a chance. But this is no message-dominated film: what we remember is its sympathetic, human comedy as a soldier and his girl try to find a place for a cuddle, but are forever interrupted by the warden’s tor- ch. Donald Taylor, the director/producer, had begun in films in the early 1930s with the documentary guru John Grierson, but soon showed definite leaning towards commercial entertainment and fiction (for Grierson almost a dirty word).

Geoff Brown