Ephemeral films are non-fiction films usually made for educational, industrial, or promotional purposes. Ephemeral film, as defined by film archivist Rick Prelinger, is film made for a specific purpose other than as a work of art: the films were designed to serve a specific pragmatic purpose.
The Welfare State. Charley questions the need for the National Insurance Acts of 1948.
The Birth of the National Health Service. (1948) Charley has the workings of the National Health Service explained to him.
New town building after the war. This 1948 film shows in light fashion how to set about replanning a town.
1947 Animation short promoting general health awareness. Humorous cartoon treatment of general health problems: correct posture; the value of exercise and fresh air; the importance of suitable clothes; how to avoid insomnia.
A 1949 informational British short with Richard Massingham. A tongue in cheek look at postwar austerity. The Central Office of Information commissioned the film to help dispel the general feeling that the country was done for. Philip Mackie, a producer, remembers Massingham sighing at meetings and asking, "but really, what is there to be cheerful about these days?" Watching the film now, it is certainly difficult to argue that he fulfilled his brief. The uncontrolled laughter of the two men after their failed suicide attempt is prompted more by an absurd acceptance of misery than by proving that things are better than they seem. The film was attacked in the House of Commons precisely for its doom-mongering. A Conservative MP wanted to know if it had been an appropriate way to spend £9000 of taxpayers' money.
A 1948 informational British short with Richard Massingham. Amusing health propaganda trailer on the dangers of sneezing. A sequel to "Coughs and Sneezes".
A 1948 informational British short with Richard Massingham. Amusing health propaganda trailer on the dangers of sneezing. Coughs and Sneezes spread diseases. Followed by "Don't Spread Germs".
A 1948 informational British short with Richard Massingham. Humorous road safety trailer on the correct use of pedestrian crossings. Belisha beacons.
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A Warning to Travellers (Five Pounds in Notes)
A 1949 informational British short with Richard Massingham. A stark warning to holiday makers not to take more than £5 in notes abroad. Richard Massingham. only five pounds in notes were to be taken abroad. balance of payments crisis.
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Read any good meters lately (Watch Your Meters)
A 1947 informational British short with Richard Massingham. Surrealist trailer exhorting people to save energy by watching their meters. Fuel rationing. Wasting energy. Energy shortage. Fuel crisis.
(1958) While trying to address the problems of gossip in the workplace, this film does an excellent job of offending everyone involved the overreacting manager, the nosey secretary and the chattering female grapevine participants. Shown to audiences nowadays, you can see folks flinch every time a female employee is referred to as a girl. This film is a hoot.
This Centron Productions from 1951 deals with the tale of "Susan Jane," the perennial outcast. This is a good film that really gets down to a problem with perception.
Chilling yet effective. Sandy goes to the prom with her boyfriend, Bill. Bill has just bought a new car and is anxious to show Sandy what it can do. The two of them go speeding around town in his car, only to wind up crashing into a tree, which kills them both. Moral: Speed--and not going to a place you told your parents you were going to--kills.
An older employee responds appropriately when he is told that the big promotion is going to a younger, more educated employee. Heres another film in the Calvin management series that provides no answers, but lets you decide which is the best way not to promote the old guy.
A 1941 Hollywood-produced melodramatic short by Lewis Milestone that deals with prophylaxis, diagnosis and clinical treatment of syphilis. Discusses follow-up treatment, sources of infection and community control.
A 1951 film assessing the behavior of a juvenile delinquent who refuses to rat on his companions.
In this film by Sid Davis from 1968 the dangers of drinking and driving are illustrated to a teenager returning from a beach party, where he had "one too many beach beers," and runs over a young mother and her child. Pretty classic Sid Davis scare film has it all, foolish teenagers, a tern narrator, and of course, racks and racks of guilt. We somewhat follow Bill. who had a couple of beers and then goes driving with his girl, he hits a mother and a girl. Inbetween the story, we are shown what happens to alcohol once it enters the human body and some nice actual crash scenes. But man oh man, poor Bill, not only does he have to do the 'blow this balloon up' test which I've never seen, or having to deal with the death of the young girl 'for the rest of your life', but you have the most guilt-ridden, angst building, condescending narrator just about to spit on you. Highly Recommended!
The only thing more boring than watching a slide presentation is watching a movie of a slide presentation. This 1962 education short by Curtis Avery provides this amazingly dull (and mercifully brief) experience, but also has some redeeming qualities. The introductory segment is laughably stilted. In the 1960s standard-issue family of Father, Mother, Daughter, and Son, only the boy seems to be able to act. But once you get past the family and classroom slide show segments, the animated instructional film within this short movie is actually rather informative, although some of the details are a bit dated.
(1971) While attempting to show us the common hazards which cause workers to lose their balance, this film has more slapstick than most Three Stooges shorts - the films hero fall down more than thirty times. Its not clear whether the film was meant to be funny as workers probably were laughing at this poor schnook more than learning from his mistakes.
Larry, an obnoxous, ill-mannered little brat, is given detention after school and has to clean the chalkboard. However, instead of cleaning the chalkboard, he draws a cartoon-like character--which comes to life and convinces him that all of his problem result from the fact that he is a spoiled, nasty mannered little twerp. Larry vows to change his ways and become a good student.
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