River of Steel (1951) User Reviews

Impressive and oh so dramatic!

[JohnSeal · 7/10 · 2 March 2020]

This stunning animated short depicts the production of steel from beginning to end on behalf of its sponsor, the British Iron and Steel Federation. The animation is on par with the finest of the Soviet social realist school, whilst Roger MacDougall's energetic narration and Hans Ward's outstanding and lively score elevate River of Steel far above the typical mundane industrial film. Highly recommended.

Pretentious Rubbish

[malcolmgsw · 3/10 · 19 July 2020]

This is an animated cartoon sponsored by the British Steel Industry.Hard to decide which is more annoying the grating unmusic score or the shouted narration.Steel yourself for 11 very trying minutes.

Epic whimsical delight

[sublimineyes · 20 November 2021]

One of the best 1950s British animations I've seen. Shot through with a whimsy that tallies well with having being scripted by Roger MacDougall, it adds the feel of an epic (especially the first few minutes), all drawn and coloured with the same sort of bravado characteristic of the positive, forward looking, "white heat" enthusiasm for the future and technology of the age. The score fits perfectly and the characters are drawn with real warmth, humility and pride.

The production screen states it was produced by "The W. M Larkins Studio in co-operation with The British Iron & Steel Federation" so possibly the latter contributed funding (maybe all the funding) but this is only a possibility. The piece certainly doesn't come across as propaganda, more a sort of honest promotion to put a face to faceless steel mills, letting people know how important steel was to large facets of life. So I think an earlier review here really mischaracterises what it is all about, unfairly.

Really happy to have stumbled across this little gem.