The Prendergast File

1964 , The Grand Union Canal (Other)

Cat no. 4088

Spoof Ministry of Public Apathy staff training film.

A civil servant, Prendergast, in the Department of Constructive Delays is asked by his superior in the Ministry of Public Apathy, Clitheroe, to research and prepare an answer to a Parliamentary question on present canal policy for the Minister. Given 7 days to construct the answer, the civil servant becomes interested in the subject of his investigation and produces a report ‘full of recommendations’ and ‘advocating action’. The report does not fit the brief of inaction and is discarded by the Ministry of Public Apathy. The Minister’s reply, according to a ‘time honoured formula’, disparages the state of canals, their potential and the people who make use of them as well as determining that the present policy is to maintain the status quo until a new royal commission is deemed necessary to investigate the problem fully. The film concludes by mulling over the whereabouts of Prendergast, who by all accounts has abandoned his civil service career.

Featured Buildings

The Boat Free House [location unknown] The Globe Inn [location unknown] Palace of Westminster, London BBC Broadcasting House, London

Featured Events

Restoration work on the Stratford upon Avon Canal

Keywords

Spoofs; Training films; Civil servants; Bowler hats; Bureaucracy; Bureaucrats; Canals; Inland waterways; Waterways; Grand Union Canal; Barges; Narrow boats; Locks; Pleasure boats; Brentford electric lock; Parliamentary reply

Intertitles

Ministry of Public Apathy, Staff Training Series

Other Places

Hatton Hill; Aylesbury; Brentford

Maker : Denys Gueroult
- Name: AUTH2371
- Activity: maker
- Source Note: Credit Source (data migration 25/06/2021) onscreen credit
- Text: Denys Gueroult
Maker : Geoffrey Hart
- Name: AUTH3421
- Activity: maker
- Source Note: Credit Source (data migration 25/06/2021) onscreen credit
- Text: Geoffrey Hart
Maker : Peter Kendrick
- Name: AUTH7979
- Activity: maker
- Source Note: Credit Source (data migration 25/06/2021) onscreen credit
- Text: Peter Kendrick
Maker : Beryl Symons
- Name: AUTH1140
- Activity: maker
- Source Note: Credit Source (data migration 25/06/2021) onscreen credit
- Text: Beryl Symons

Samuel Prendergast Hugh Symons
- Name: AUTH10650
- Activity: Performer
- Character: Samuel Prendergast
- Source Note: Performer Source Information (data migration 25/06/2021) onscreen credit
- Text: Hugh Symons
Mabel Cunningham
- Name: AUTH10938
- Activity: Performer
- Source Note: Performer Source Information (data migration 25/06/2021) onscreen credit
- Text: Mabel Cunningham
David Hutchings
- Name: AUTH10363
- Activity: Performer
- Source Note: Performer Source Information (data migration 25/06/2021) onscreen credit
- Text: David Hutchings
Harry Barlow
- Name: AUTH10609
- Activity: Performer
- Source Note: Performer Source Information (data migration 25/06/2021) onscreen credit
- Text: Harry Barlow
Jack James
- Name: AUTH10698
- Activity: Performer
- Source Note: Performer Source Information (data migration 25/06/2021) onscreen credit
- Text: Jack James

Manifestations

The Prendergast File

Award:
- Group 1:
  - Note: Awards (data migration 25/06/2021): Amateur Cine World Ten Best Film Competition, Ten Best winner, 1964.

Genre: Women's Filmmaking / Amateur / TNA Project
Locations: The Grand Union Canal (Other)
Description Type: monographic
Related to: IAC

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