Mary's Birthday (1951)

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/info_10841.html

'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-mediatheque

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• BFI
• children
• health
• food
• hygiene
• insects
• animation
• Lotte
• Reiniger
• cartoon
• public
• information
• birthday
• fairies

[orangepolyester]

This is a beautiful film. I can't help but notice, however, that the flies speak in working-class accents and talk about 'organizing' and 'striking'. Among other things, this film is a subtle attempt to inculcate the fear of organized labour in children - ironic considering the strength of the labour movement in the UK at the time.

[lisagarden]

Such an interesting film. Varied animation techniques.

Actually some good advice. Young children definitely "get" the germs in the throat the way she presents it!

Sillouettes are great as children of different backgrounds can project onto the sillouetted figures.

[CyrLiam]

I absolutely love this film. It's beautiful.

[jamierourketen]

anti communist!

[projektor4]

i was born in 1951 and i´m still here so ...

[MushroomMai]

Lotte is one of my biggest inspirations, she is one pf my biggest hero's. What a wonderfully talanted, imaginative and unique person she was.

[lisagarden]

Kinda timely with the Swine Flu outbreak here in California!

[lisagarden]

Could it be that those are terms more connected to the war then unions? that is what I think.

[metalorg]

Interesting animation! Ones that use transparent pigments like this are very rare.

The silhouetted people look like Thai shadow puppets.

[littleediesleotard]

*Love* the germs dancing in Aunt Peggy's throat.

[richragsdale]

fantastic