Charley in New Town (1948)

'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-mediatheque http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/online/bfi_media.htm

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• BFI
• British
• Film
• Institute
• COI
• Central
• Office
• of
• Information
• Charley
• Cartoon
• Technicolor
• Halas
• and
• Batchelor
• City
• Development
• housing
• Architecture
• Architect
• Architects
• Old
• Cult
• animation
• propaganda

[stev1963hit]

Yet another treasure from BFI-funny thing is,many people back in the post-war era were very sceptical about these types of ideas,which is probably why a film like this was made-thanks so much!

[amindlessidiot]

So that's how Britain became the green, sunny suburban utopia it is today.

[freethoughtmusic]

At least they had f---ing jobs to pour out of the busses to go to.

[motzPHaragas]

Is he not on "Your Very Good Health"? I recognize him in establishing the British NHS in 1948.

[LTDreams]

Okay, so this is why there are shit holes like Telford

[CJamesPalmer]

4:10 "You've ruined my favourite pub sir!" :-D

[TashkentFox]

This propaganda film is hilarious in retrospect, who really wants to live half a mile up in the sky in a lego set buil by the council?

[mrElpacas]

shop chippy pub!

[CDPDPatrolUnit]

NYC and Chicago style hi-rises is the best choice.

[DarrrrenCullllen]

And everyone lived happily ever after...

[SteelAngelJohn]

What I find the most accurate about this is how complaints make things happen. Bold new ideas pale in comparison to whining.