“Atlantic Trawler” is a 1944 black-and-white Ministry of Information film. An opening scrawl reminds the viewer that: “In peacetime fishermen’s lives are hard and dangerous. In wartime, all their best ships and many of their young men are in the Navy. Those who are left must face not only the ordinary dangers of the sea and storm, but enemy aircraft, floating mines, U-boats and the minefields that cover their old fishing grounds.” The film continues with hots of a steam trawler at work and general views of trawler and deck (mark 01:00) before moving on to the crew discussing jammed machine gun (02:00). We see shots of women on a pier mending nets and gutting fish (03:00) as well as a trawler in heavy seas (03:35) with various shots of deck, wheelhouse, trawl and gear. Charts showing position of minefields follows starting at mark 05:30 with more general shots of crew, one using a sextant, interior of boiler and engine room, and in the galley at mealtime. We see the crews in their bunks (mark 10:15) and hots of wives collecting pay on shore (mark 10:45) - “the only day of the week the women remember you” quips one sailor. The film rolls on with street views mixed with scences of men repairing nets (mark 11:22) and more views of the sea and starting near mark 15:20 at ashore, shopping with their families, in the pub, playing cards, and strolling. The skipper visits office (mark 15:56) to settle the next trip and the areas which have to be visited while an official warns of minefields. At mark 19:07 the crew arrives onboard the vessel Flying Admiral (H66), and the skipper prepares to set sail. As the picture draws to a close we see the steam trawler “Hondo” and learn that it was the vessel “on which this film was made (and) went back to sea with a different crew. She was lost with all hands.”
Credits (.36); In peacetime fishermen's lives are hard and dangerous. In wartime, all their best ships and many of their young men are in the Navy. Those who are left must face not only the ordinary dangers of the sea and storm, but enemy aircraft, floating mines, U-boats and the minefields that cover their old fishing grounds. Shots of a steam trawler at work. General views of trawler and deck (1.28); Crew discuss jammed machine gun (2.51); Shots of women on pier mending nets and gutting fish (3.22); Trawler in heavy seas. Various shots of deck, wheelhouse, trawl and gear. Charts showing position of minefields (5.53); General shots of crew, one using a sextant, interior of boiler and engine room, in the galley at mealtime (7.52); Various shots of trawlers at the quay as catch is landed and packed into hold (10.06); Crew in bunks (10.32); Shots of wives collecting pay on shore. General views of street (10.59) On deck repairing trawl (11.46); General views of sea and crew at work (14.24); Shots of others, naval and fishing vessels (15.08); Various shots of the crew ashore, shopping with their families, in the pub, playing cards and strolling. General shots of streets, possibly in Grimsby (16.06); The skipper visits office to settle the next trip and the areas which have to be visited. Official warns of minefields (16.49); Crewmen and families. Various shots of streets, parks and shops, a billiard hall and card table (18.39); General views of shore (18.56); Shots of trawlers in harbour, crew arrive on board vessel, "Flying Admiral" H66, and the skipper prepares to set sail (20.27); The steam trawler "Hondo" on which this film was made went back to sea with a different crew. She was lost with all hands (20.40)
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