Menu
© 2026 The Couch Critic
Browse 123 movies from COI
On an English farm, six reckless children play at being a fierce band of Apache warriors, unaware of the many dangers to which they are exposed. (Public information short film produced on behalf of the British Government to warn children living in rural areas about the risks of playing near farm machinery.)
Feb 1977
A soon-to-be born baby learns about the kinds of schools he will attending in the years following his birth.
Jan 1949
The story of Jimmy, who conscientiously takes the National Cycling Proficiency Scheme test, and Leslie, who suffers a series of mishaps through his own negligence.
Jan 1964
Part of BFI collection "Design for Today."
Jan 1948
An African tribe in the Eastern Nigerian village of Umana work to build a maternity hospital, with the aid of government officials, and against the opposition of some tribal members.
Aug 1949
A tribute to William Shakespeare devised by Geoffrey Buckland-Smith and made in connection with the quatro-centenary celebrations. Spoken extracts from Shakespeare's works (read by Stephen Murray) blend with visuals of scenes in Britain today which illustrate his references to countryside or childhood, and the sea or to the taverns and trades of London. Includes sequence of Olivier as Henry V and is accompanied by period music on the lute by Desmond Dupré.
The people, the scenery and the industrial traditions of the Stroud valley and the growth of the woollen industry.
Jan 1951
Even the most devout monarchist may feel uncomfortable watching this film - hindsight makes this a rather poignant experience. Although clearly intended as a hymn to royal life, with a panting narration describing the bliss Charles, Anne and Andrew are experiencing (the film was made three years before the birth of Edward), the images tell a different story - only a couple of shots feature the children smiling, while the first glimpse of Andrew as a baby, a spotlight shining on his face as photographers snap away, is a faintly sinister symbol of the royals’ lack of privacy from birth. The knowledge that a future of divorce and tabloid scandal would tarnish these children's adult lives adds irony to this snapshot of supposed utopia.
Jan 1961
The World Is Rich is a 1947 British documentary film directed by Paul Rotha about food shortages after World War II, outlining steps underway to deal with the problems. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Oct 1946
Documentary about shipbuilding on the Clyde. In 1960, Glasgow and other towns and ports on the River Clyde, on the west coast of Scotland, were still one of the world's great centres of shipbuilding. The film gives an idea of the business of building a ship - the largest moving thing made by man - from the naval architects who design her to the workmen, the shipbuilders in the yard, through to a ship's launching.
Mar 1960
A Centre Office of Information (COI) production about smoking.
Jan 1963
A docu-almanac about British sports personalities.
Dec 1959
Never Go With Strangers was intended for children aged between seven and ten and its purpose was ‘to warn them of the dangers of accepting lifts or presents from strangers’. Due to potential distress government officials instructed that the film only be shown under ‘responsible adult supervision’, thus denying it a TV airing for many years.
Jan 1971
An exhortation to drivers to pay attention to road safety. In just 15 minutes, John Krish manages to give this road safety film something new and different by presenting events not from the point of view of the driver, but of his brain, memory and ego, who operate from a rather camp technology-driven command centre.
Jan 1975
Warning children not to play near 'dark and lonely' water, a horror film style look and voice-over is used in this film to highlight the dangers.
Jul 1973
Filmed partly in Urdu, Insaaf (Injustice) is a public information film aimed at Britain’s South Asian communities. Produced through the Central Office of Information for the Race Relations Board, it seeks to inform viewers of the Board’s role in enforcing the 1968 Race Relations Act, via the story of a young man denied a job he is qualified for due to the racism of his potential employer.
While a mother busies herself with sewing, a clock counts down the last minute of her daughter’s life as we hear a chilling voiceover reminding us to keep watch over our children when they're near traffic.
Jan 1973
A documentary by Humphrey Jennings about the modernization of coal mines in Cumberland.
Feb 1948
This film tells the story of Ronald, an intelligent boy who wants to become an architect or surveyor. His cousins Paul and Jane cannot believe that Ronald has any awareness of building sites. In Paul's imagination, he and his sister set Ronald in a number of typical sites, to see if he can survive the hazards that kill and maim many children each year. Ronald eventually learns the hard way that he did not know as much about building sites as he thought.
Jan 1978
Designed to promote the National Cycling Proficiency Scheme: an N.C.P.S. student competes with another boy in a private cycling competition, organised and judged by pop singer, Peter Noone.