Post by johnstewart on May 14, 2007 23:00:46 GMT
Just a thread really intended to summarise memories of the public info films run in this period; mainly on the BBC.
Diptheria kills! Horror based Ministry of Information film about getting children vacinated;
c. 1964 then later final a speight of re screenings after absence of a number of years, around 69 - 70.
Start with two Mothers wheeling prams along an open road. The message in craggy horror style writing 'Diptheria KILLS!' filled the screen.
Recurrent shot of an animated giant jagged shadow of a claw accompanied by a jarring brass dischord.
The shot of this superimposed over an aerial shot of a baby in a pram (1950s style); crying; really badly disturbed me! It seems no longer available but telesnaps appeared in a book I recall in the Goldsmiths College Library c. 1981 - 82. May have been a European Graphics review magazine.
Ancient monuments of Great Britain.
there seems to be two series; the ones I remember didn't have a pre heading, just the name of the Castle being shown on a caption graphic, then a map of England showing the location. These ones continued to be shown later. In 1970 - 71 the BBC were still running them. I seem to remember the BBC ran a late trade test transmission around 1977 showing 'Evoluon' again; and that around then; possibly 1978 they showed a couple of public information films last thing at night before weather and close; and one of the Ancient monuments ones was used again.
Don't mix cross ply and radial tyres - 'Cross ply' being as far as I can recall a sort of criss cross pattern on the wheel tread rather than furrows adjacent to the tyres edge. I recall the close up of the tyre and I think it was a cream Austin Maxi seen swerving across a wet road demonstrating what can happen when you do.
Wear something white at night -
It was a big campaign with several variant films. the main one I recall is a couple a middle aged man and woman; the man looking like Derek Ware; dressed in white macs walking by a remote roadside in the rain. A cars lights illuminate the loose top back section of a white raincoat. Pointing out that the dark areas like the mans hair can't be seen in the dark. I think this was before the days you got those coats with a fluorescent silvered strip running horizontally on the back under the shoulders. I think it was Lance Percival singing the theme tune in a calypso style.
and the man turns back briefly escorting the woman with one arm behind her supporting.
Tinker tailor, soldier sailor - This seems to be a lost gem. Televised between 1965 and 68 as far as I can recall. It started with a bored looking young man / older teenager, sitting at a kitchen table looking bored with one cheek resting on an arm. He was looking down at a bowl of prunes and semolina (classic 1960s 'afters'); and counting the prune stones with his spoon. Over this was a voice reciting the saying 'Tinker - tailor - Soldier - Sailor?' Each like a question referring to his destiny in the world of work on leaving school. Each word coincided with him counting a different prune stone; the shot changing from one of him looking down to his point of view of the plate with its contents. It probably stuck in my mind because it was bizarre and also I hated prunes!
It ended with a letter being posted through a letterbox seen in aerial view landing on the inside door mat; and the words 'pop into your local Labour exchange'.
Follow the country code - There were several of these animated ones I think; and they were put on the Ministry of Informations 'Public Information' VHS releases in the 90s. The one I recall shows the aftermath of an inconsiderate family; with a stylised poorly looking Cow which has been cut on a broken bottle.
Take care near fireworks - I don't know what this was really called but seem to remember it ended with a shot of a guy, looking like a potato sack atop a bonfire, with one of those hideous egg box card Guy Fawkes mask you got in the 60s on. They had pencil moustaches and were supposed to be Guy Fawkes I think, but with furrowed brow and in horrible red or yellow card. They also did two variants which looked like Witches, in green card with a wart to one side of the nose.
The last shot is a freeze frame of the guy burning. I would guess a bit later 1967 to 68.
Roy Hudd and the keep Britain tidy parade - weekdays lunchtime just before 1'0 clock p.m., before I went back to school. About 1967. Could have been any day but probably Monday or Tuesday I think.
It looked as though it was filmed at the back of a Modern comprehensive school or the Crystal Palace sports centre, with an Actor dressed like a Burglar looking round before he drops litter. Roy Hudd is seen leading an army of people like the Young generation all dressed in sort of Tennis gear with white T shirts sporting the 'Keep Britain Tidy' logo. The music was a spy style theme a bit like the bass line of the 'Saint' theme.
What a pity you let it happen in the first place - 1967 or 68. This one had a family dealing in an emergency with a serious household leak. At the end the family, with a Son in glasses and roll neck sweater stand by the door with the proud Dad with a hand around each end members shoulder. Their smiles turn to looks of dismay as the Narrator says 'Well done! - What a pity you let it happen in the first place'.
The kid in black framed glasses (Spencer Banks type); looked like my Brother.
You'd better come in (Candid Camera actress) - Again this was around 1966 - 67. I think it was either Sheila Burnette of 'Candid Camera' or Sheila Steafel (both comedy Actresses). She plays a housewife on whom various visitors call during the day. Some are salesmen, also the Milkman, gas man etc. As each visitor calls the tone of the bell escalates higher in pitch. She fails to question the identity of authority of any of them and eventually is saying 'you'd better come in' to anyone, resulting in at the end her returning to find all the visitors have gone along with all her possessions and she makes a glum sobbing face.
Take care near horses - may be later, 70s - This is the one where a voiceover artist possibly Keith Barron warns Drivers not to startle horses with sudden movements, resulting in the Horse rearing up and causing a car accident.
My Mum says watch where you're going when you cross the road. - I think this is a bit later 1969 - 70 but it was pre 'Charlie says and seemed to be run all the time along with 'You'd better come in'. in this one a fir haired boy in an anorak is seen out with his family walking under a road underpass or in various domestic situations also featuring his Grandma. Towards the end a scene is shown where the Mother is trying to rush them to cross the road causing a Ford Capri (I think) to swerve just missing them. She goes to argue with him then sees its 'his Dad'. I remember I had an anorak exactly like this in 1969, a brown one and identifying with the boy (at least in appearance and most aspects - his voice was more cockney sounding than mine!)
Join the Royal Navy -
This was a standard one showing a rotating radar then a sailor on a ship turning the levers to turn a huge white gun barrel around. It ended on that slogan in white capitals.
Several of these items appear to remain missing or untraced to any Film Library. I've only just remembered the Guy Fawkes one unless it was part of an actual advert for a product (i.e. 'Light up the sky with Stan - dard fire - works'. (with musical song).
I believe there is a selection of continuity link recordings between 1965 and 1976 representing the various broadcasts of the films on BBC television, though as stated some important films themselves seem to be missing from various agents Libraries.
In the case of some missing items had the ITV companies recorded more links like the BBC, these items would also have been preserved.
Diptheria kills! Horror based Ministry of Information film about getting children vacinated;
c. 1964 then later final a speight of re screenings after absence of a number of years, around 69 - 70.
Start with two Mothers wheeling prams along an open road. The message in craggy horror style writing 'Diptheria KILLS!' filled the screen.
Recurrent shot of an animated giant jagged shadow of a claw accompanied by a jarring brass dischord.
The shot of this superimposed over an aerial shot of a baby in a pram (1950s style); crying; really badly disturbed me! It seems no longer available but telesnaps appeared in a book I recall in the Goldsmiths College Library c. 1981 - 82. May have been a European Graphics review magazine.
Ancient monuments of Great Britain.
there seems to be two series; the ones I remember didn't have a pre heading, just the name of the Castle being shown on a caption graphic, then a map of England showing the location. These ones continued to be shown later. In 1970 - 71 the BBC were still running them. I seem to remember the BBC ran a late trade test transmission around 1977 showing 'Evoluon' again; and that around then; possibly 1978 they showed a couple of public information films last thing at night before weather and close; and one of the Ancient monuments ones was used again.
Don't mix cross ply and radial tyres - 'Cross ply' being as far as I can recall a sort of criss cross pattern on the wheel tread rather than furrows adjacent to the tyres edge. I recall the close up of the tyre and I think it was a cream Austin Maxi seen swerving across a wet road demonstrating what can happen when you do.
Wear something white at night -
It was a big campaign with several variant films. the main one I recall is a couple a middle aged man and woman; the man looking like Derek Ware; dressed in white macs walking by a remote roadside in the rain. A cars lights illuminate the loose top back section of a white raincoat. Pointing out that the dark areas like the mans hair can't be seen in the dark. I think this was before the days you got those coats with a fluorescent silvered strip running horizontally on the back under the shoulders. I think it was Lance Percival singing the theme tune in a calypso style.
and the man turns back briefly escorting the woman with one arm behind her supporting.
Tinker tailor, soldier sailor - This seems to be a lost gem. Televised between 1965 and 68 as far as I can recall. It started with a bored looking young man / older teenager, sitting at a kitchen table looking bored with one cheek resting on an arm. He was looking down at a bowl of prunes and semolina (classic 1960s 'afters'); and counting the prune stones with his spoon. Over this was a voice reciting the saying 'Tinker - tailor - Soldier - Sailor?' Each like a question referring to his destiny in the world of work on leaving school. Each word coincided with him counting a different prune stone; the shot changing from one of him looking down to his point of view of the plate with its contents. It probably stuck in my mind because it was bizarre and also I hated prunes!
It ended with a letter being posted through a letterbox seen in aerial view landing on the inside door mat; and the words 'pop into your local Labour exchange'.
Follow the country code - There were several of these animated ones I think; and they were put on the Ministry of Informations 'Public Information' VHS releases in the 90s. The one I recall shows the aftermath of an inconsiderate family; with a stylised poorly looking Cow which has been cut on a broken bottle.
Take care near fireworks - I don't know what this was really called but seem to remember it ended with a shot of a guy, looking like a potato sack atop a bonfire, with one of those hideous egg box card Guy Fawkes mask you got in the 60s on. They had pencil moustaches and were supposed to be Guy Fawkes I think, but with furrowed brow and in horrible red or yellow card. They also did two variants which looked like Witches, in green card with a wart to one side of the nose.
The last shot is a freeze frame of the guy burning. I would guess a bit later 1967 to 68.
Roy Hudd and the keep Britain tidy parade - weekdays lunchtime just before 1'0 clock p.m., before I went back to school. About 1967. Could have been any day but probably Monday or Tuesday I think.
It looked as though it was filmed at the back of a Modern comprehensive school or the Crystal Palace sports centre, with an Actor dressed like a Burglar looking round before he drops litter. Roy Hudd is seen leading an army of people like the Young generation all dressed in sort of Tennis gear with white T shirts sporting the 'Keep Britain Tidy' logo. The music was a spy style theme a bit like the bass line of the 'Saint' theme.
What a pity you let it happen in the first place - 1967 or 68. This one had a family dealing in an emergency with a serious household leak. At the end the family, with a Son in glasses and roll neck sweater stand by the door with the proud Dad with a hand around each end members shoulder. Their smiles turn to looks of dismay as the Narrator says 'Well done! - What a pity you let it happen in the first place'.
The kid in black framed glasses (Spencer Banks type); looked like my Brother.
You'd better come in (Candid Camera actress) - Again this was around 1966 - 67. I think it was either Sheila Burnette of 'Candid Camera' or Sheila Steafel (both comedy Actresses). She plays a housewife on whom various visitors call during the day. Some are salesmen, also the Milkman, gas man etc. As each visitor calls the tone of the bell escalates higher in pitch. She fails to question the identity of authority of any of them and eventually is saying 'you'd better come in' to anyone, resulting in at the end her returning to find all the visitors have gone along with all her possessions and she makes a glum sobbing face.
Take care near horses - may be later, 70s - This is the one where a voiceover artist possibly Keith Barron warns Drivers not to startle horses with sudden movements, resulting in the Horse rearing up and causing a car accident.
My Mum says watch where you're going when you cross the road. - I think this is a bit later 1969 - 70 but it was pre 'Charlie says and seemed to be run all the time along with 'You'd better come in'. in this one a fir haired boy in an anorak is seen out with his family walking under a road underpass or in various domestic situations also featuring his Grandma. Towards the end a scene is shown where the Mother is trying to rush them to cross the road causing a Ford Capri (I think) to swerve just missing them. She goes to argue with him then sees its 'his Dad'. I remember I had an anorak exactly like this in 1969, a brown one and identifying with the boy (at least in appearance and most aspects - his voice was more cockney sounding than mine!)
Join the Royal Navy -
This was a standard one showing a rotating radar then a sailor on a ship turning the levers to turn a huge white gun barrel around. It ended on that slogan in white capitals.
Several of these items appear to remain missing or untraced to any Film Library. I've only just remembered the Guy Fawkes one unless it was part of an actual advert for a product (i.e. 'Light up the sky with Stan - dard fire - works'. (with musical song).
I believe there is a selection of continuity link recordings between 1965 and 1976 representing the various broadcasts of the films on BBC television, though as stated some important films themselves seem to be missing from various agents Libraries.
In the case of some missing items had the ITV companies recorded more links like the BBC, these items would also have been preserved.
