Fire Prevention: Searching (1974)

'Searching' hits viewers hard where it hurts: their primeval parental fear of their children predeceasing them. Not for the first time, director John Krish here turns out a masterful bite-sized slice of 'public service cinema'. It won a Venice Golden Lion and a Hollywood 'Spike' trophy - and a generation later, it still hits hard and still hurts. (Patrick Russell)

'Searching' is one of 27 warning and safety films released on the BFI DVD 'The COI Collection Volume 4: Stop! Look! Listen!': http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/info_18174.html

You can read more about director John Krish at: http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1077061/index.html

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• BFI National Archive
• COI
• Central Office of Information
• public information films
• John Krish
• Stop! Look! Listen!
• matches
• fire
• children
• house
• burned
• burnt
• charred

[Davewise1965]

I am 45 years old and I remember when this advert first came out in 1974 when I was 9 years old. I watched the whole advert once and it scared the living daylights out of me. After that everytime it came on I would close my eyes tightly and stick my fingers in my ears so that I couldn't see or hear it. Even now it still makes the hairs on my arms stand on end.

[jaydenshea]

0:17 - Pizza,,, pizzaa!

[maxmillion93]

One word- CREEPY!!!!!!!!!

[bungleandgorge]

very haunting, frightening and hard hitting. a classic public information film that still has the power to draw your attention to the devastating effects of fire. should be on TV again

[mistofoles]

Scares the shit out children, but I guess that's the point!

[siameasles1]

what a terribly scarey film it looks like the children had been playing with a can of petrol as well considering the state of the house

[FuckYeahLycanvas]

..*curls up into the fetal position* ..... ..WOOWWW that's effective. I'm, um... Just gonna go throw out every hint of matches and lighters I own now. brb.

[bungleandgorge]

i have seen this before and still nearly 40 years on still so very haunting but very effective

[ian1970byrne]

I remember this advert as a kid from the mid 1970's. I used to hide behind the sofa when it came on because it was so disturbing.

[Funkadelicisis]

Nightmarish

[TaTgurl1003]

shudders