Chromophobia (1966 ), Raoul Servais

Mary's Birthday (1951)

views BFIfilms — 09 October 2008 — More films by Reiniger are available to buy as part of the BFI DVD 'Lotte Reiniger: The Fairy Tale Flims' - http... BFIfilms — 09 October 2008 — More films by Reiniger are available to buy as part of the BFI DVD 'Lotte Reiniger: The Fairy Tale Flims' - http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/...

'Sing ho for disease
And the germs in a sneeze,
For pollution, for filth and infection.
We'll wipe off our feet
On somebody's meat
And hope it's a lethal injection.'

No, not a lost stanza from the pens of Gilbert and Sullivan, but the rousing chorus sung by some bluebottles as they plan to cause intestinal misery at Mary's party.

This guide to elementary hygiene is among the most eccentric and enjoyable Public Information Films. Director Lotte Reiniger is famed for her quaint silhouette animation, but here she seems on the verge of a career shift that unfortunately never happened. If it had, she would be remembered as one of the great British surrealists.

One of the unexpected highlights is the array of accents on parade. The flower fairies sound like graduates of the Brief Encounter School of Elocution; insects and microbes are voiced by somewhat earthier types while the King of the Flies sounds distinctly like Kenneth Williams attempting to impersonate Winston Churchill. (Robin Baker)

You can watch over 1200 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge in the Mediatheque at BFI Southbank, London and at the new QUAD centre for art and film in Derby -
http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque
http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/bfi-mediat...

Facts and Figures - Or, Whatever Happened to Dick (1970)

views BFIfilms — 04 September 2009 — For more information on 'King Coal', a major exploration of Britain's coal mining industry as seen on film, visi... BFIfilms — 04 September 2009 — For more information on 'King Coal', a major exploration of Britain's coal mining industry as seen on film, visit http://www.bfi.org.uk/coal.html

Witty, brief, basic - and bleak. Here's another side of the National Coal Board's amazingly rich, diverse and addictive work for the screen. Following Lord Robens' 1961 appointment as NCB Chairman, safety became a higher priority than ever before. Annual safety campaigns became a fixture of the coal industry calendar, and films played a major part.

TV Cartoons, run by George Dunning (best remembered for 'Yellow Submarine') contributed some two dozen animations to these campaigns over the years. This one's characteristic: unambiguous message, unpretentiously inventive animation and a blackly comic tone. Note the variety of names representing miners onscreen - Dai and Jock, as well as Tom, Dick and Harry. 'Facts and Figures' was made available in all the coalfields, Welsh, Scottish and English. (Patrick Russell)

You can watch over 1500 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge in the Mediatheque at BFI Southbank, London and at the new QUAD centre for art and film in Derby - http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/bfi-mediat...

Thud and Blunder in Knock-Off Time (1964)

views BFIfilms — 10 September 2009 — For more information on 'King Coal', a major exploration of Britain's coal mining industry as seen on film, visi... BFIfilms — 10 September 2009 — For more information on 'King Coal', a major exploration of Britain's coal mining industry as seen on film, visit http://www.bfi.org.uk/coal.html

Thud and Blunder are two clumsy cartoon miners who helped educate colliery employees in how not to behave down a mineshaft. Made by the National Coal Board, the Thud and Blunder safety animations are pleasingly wild and primitive, and the sidekick canary is a nice touch. Thud and Blunder seldom reveal any potential hazards which could not be avoided through common sense, but they're still enormous fun.

You can watch over 1500 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge in the Mediatheque at BFI Southbank, London and at the new QUAD centre for art and film in Derby - http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/bfi-mediat...
Category:
Film & Animation

To Demonstrate How Spiders Fly (1909)

From: BFIfilms | 08 April 2010 | 9,159 views

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This charming short film is surprisingly technically advanced for its time, using a mechanical spider to demonstrate how the creatures spin the threads to create their webs. Suddenly the spider lifts up all of its legs, allowing itself to be dragged through the air, an effect that is both amusing and disarming, before gracefully descending through a series of mid-air acrobatics.

Percy Smith believed he could cure people of their arachnophobia with his short films showing enlarged replicas of spiders, and certainly most viewers would be more delighted than scared by the mechanical star of this short. The final image of a real spider scrabbling around its web might be less endearing, however. (Alex Davidson)

You can watch over 1800 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge at the BFI Mediatheque. There are Mediatheques at BFI Southbank, London, QUAD, Derby, Central Library, Cambridge and Wrexham Library: http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque
http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/bfi-mediatheque
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/online...
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National Health Service 1948

Clipped from a short 1948 film by the British government introducing the original aims of the British National Health Service (NHS), their publicly funded health care system. The NHS began in 1948. For details on the creation and history of the NHS, linked to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National... .

Modern Guide to Health (1947)

4,320
views 4,320
views CharacterControl — 14 June 2008 — Animation short cartoon promoting general health awareness for the NHS in 1947. Public health and Public Health ... CharacterControl — 14 June 2008 — Animation short cartoon promoting general health awareness for the NHS in 1947. Public health and Public Health Campaign Films, Post War era. Cartoon treatment of general health problems: correct posture; the value of exercise and fresh air; the importance of suitable clothes; how to avoid insomnia.

Director: Halas & Batchelor
Production Company: Halas & Batchelor
Audio/Visual: sound, color
Language: english

1947

United Kingdom - UK

Charley in New Town (1948)

18,789
views 18,789
views BFIfilms — 30 October 2009 — 'New Town' is an entry in a Central Office of Information-sponsored animated series featuring the everyman chara... BFIfilms — 30 October 2009 — 'New Town' is an entry in a Central Office of Information-sponsored animated series featuring the everyman character Charley, and promotes an escape from grimy, smoggy towns and arduous commutes to work. With the highly distinctive animation style of husband-and-wife team Halas and Batchelor, this short aims to explain the rationale behind the planning of the new towns, with their enticing offer of green open spaces and a type of housing to suit everyone.

Building skywards - Manhattan-style - is quickly ruled out for us Brits; "Don't be silly, I'd never get me pram up there" pipes up a member of the unseen chorus of unhappy city-dwellers. But considering the urban sprawl now devouring the south-east of England, perhaps skyscrapers were the way to go after all. (Simon McCallum)

You can watch over 1500 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge at the BFI Mediatheque. There are Mediatheques at BFI Southbank, London, QUAD, Derby and the new Central Library, Cambridge: http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/bfi-mediat... http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leis...