(Wellcome Library) This is an historically important and controversial propaganda film explaining the eugenics movement in the United Kingdom. It explains the hereditary transmission of special physical and mental aptitudes by reference to a number of families notable for their excellence in sport, music and the dramatic arts. It also illustrates the institutional care and training of 'mental defectives'. A family with unfavourable heredity is shown. It was not widely distributed at the time. Julian Huxley talks about the laws of heredity in order to prevent the degeneration of the race. At the end of the film, he discusses differential fertiliyy, encouraging those with sound mind and body to marry and perpetuate the race.
Copyright:
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Copyright Holder:
Galton Institute; Source: Item; Research date: 03/08/2012
Extent:
013 min.
Color:
Black and white
Sound:
Sound
Credits:
Directed by J.V. Durden under the supervision of Julian S. Huxley and H.R. Hewer ; narrator, Julian S. Huxley.
Provenance:
Received: Aug. 10, 2009; gift; from Angela Saward, curator of moving image and sound, The Wellcome Institute.