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Programme presented by Jon Lander. In January 1985 experimental television transmissions began from the House of Lords. Reg Harcourt considers the success of the project and asks if it will be extended to the House of Commons. We see clips from the first Lords coverage showing Harold Macmillan, Lord Murray and Willie Whitelaw speaking. Interviews with Baroness Fisher and Lord Harmar-Nicholls about the Lords coverage. Interviews with Austin Mitchell MP for Great Grimsby (Labour); John Stokes MP for Halesowen and Stourbridge (Conservative); Patrick Cormack MP for Staffordshire South (Conservative); and Andrew Faulds MP for Warley East (Labour) who have differing views on television in parliament. The report ends with vox pops with the public on the issue.
Next on film Mark Astaire profiles the only Communist in the House of Lords, Wogan Phillips (Lord Milford). The hereditary peer switched from Labour to the communists at the start of the Second World War. We see him at home at Colesbourne in Gloucestershire painting and he is interviewed about his life including memories of his maiden speech in 1963. We also see archive film of the General Strike and Spanish Civil War.
Next on film Rob Whitehouse reports on the end of the National Film Finance Corporation, a government body that has been funding British film since the 1940s. The new Films Act also abolishes the Eady Levy, a tax on cinema tickets which helps support the industry. We see clips of films that received funding: Saturday Night and Sunday Morning; The Third Man; and Gregory’s Girl. We then see clips from rushes from a new film 'Defence of the Realm' which will be one of the last to receive money. This cuts to shots of the crew on location. Whitehouse interviews the actor Fulton Mackay and the Labour MP for Stoke Central, Mark Fisher who are both against the changes. We also see brief exterior views of cinemas. Interview with the Conservative MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, Derek Conway who talks about the film industry having its snout in the public trough. Next we see the exterior of Rank’s offices on Wardour Street in London and Whitehouse interviews Alan Sapper of the Film Technician’s Union and David Drury who is directing Defence of the Realm and also the film’s producer Lynda Myles and actor Denholm Elliott. The industry want television to pay more for films as well as a tax on video tapes including blank stock.
Cast in order of appearance: Jon Lander; Reg Harcourt
Also featuring: Bruce Grocott; Rob Whitehouse; Mark Astaire; Margaret Mitchell
Film Editors: Adrian Tuck; Francis Robertson
Titles: Phill Dunn
Directors: John Pullen; Richie Stewart
Editor: Mart Gottschalk
Production number 5214/85. End credits are are spoof of cinema titles.