The Imperial War Museum Collection features rare and fascinating original films preserved in the Museum's archive. These films are of great historical importance and are essential viewing for anyone interested in British military history. "Now It Can Be Told" recreates the top secret missions of British agents behind enemy lines during the Second World War. What makes the film so unusual - and so compelling - is that the 'stars' of the film are the real life secret agents, replaying their wartime roles in front of the cameras. Captain Harry Ree DSO, OBE, Croix de Guerre, Medaille de la Resistance and Jacqueline Nearne MBE, faithfully recreate their wartime missions as agents 'Felix' and 'Cat'. Together, they help to harass Nazi troops in occupied France and to assist the Allies by paving the way for the D-Day invasion. In addition to real agents, the film also depicts real procedures and locations used in agent training, giving it value as an historical record that sets it apart from the more dramatic films about resistance fighters. Made by the RAF Film Production Unit and released through the Central Office of Information in 1946, filming had begun in 1944 but it was not until the war's end that it was shown in cinemas under the title School for Danger. Now It Can Be Told is a longer version, prepared for special release, with additional material from the documentary style training sequences.
"French Communique (1940)": Made by the GPO Film Unit for the MOI, the film is a brief look at French troops preparing to repel a Nazi invasion during the 'Phoney War'
"Le Journal De La Resistance (1944)": Made by the Liberation Commitee of the French Cinema and the English language version released through the MOI, Noel Coward narrates this graphic account of the dramatic events of 19-24 August 1944, when the people of Paris rose up against occupying German forces. Resistance cameramen filmed the street battles
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