Slumber now, beloved subjects...
I've just been watching the absolutely fascinating Charley Says DVD - a collection of public information films from the 60s to the 80s. It's something that's quite enthralling on several levels - as nostalgia, cultural history, a study in propaganda and much more.
It's amazing how many of the adverts could have been quite simply replaced by a message like 'Oi! Stupid people! Don't do stupid things!' but then how impoverished would our culture be without Joe and Petunia, or Claude the Caravan to show us just what the results of imbecilic behaviour might be? And how would we have bonded in my University days without remembering Rolf Harris saying 'scared the life out of me mum and dad'?
What is interesting, though, is just how graphic some of the films got by the 70s, especially the Play Safe adverts to stop kids from getting electrocuted or run over by trains. They certainly had an effect though - I can remember treating nearby electricity substations with a healthy respect, though with that taste for grisly embellishment common to young boys, I can remember tales being spread amongst my friends of a local kid (though not from our school obviously - it was the under-13 equivalent of 'friend of a friend') who'd been fried by the power.
Of course, there's a lot of quite dull stuff on there too - the Tufty Club and Green Cross Code Man bored me senseless as a child and have the same effect now - but it's worth watching for two films in particular: Spirit Of Dark And Lonely Water and Protect And Survive.
Spirit... is one of those fascinating curios you wouldn't believe existed if you hadn't seen it. Voiced by Donald Pleasance (yes, Donald Pleasance) it's a rather spooky and unsettling film that feels as much like the trailer for a 70s horror movie as a public information film.
Protect and Survive is the infamous Government film on what to do in the event of a nuclear attack on the country. As far as I know, it was never actually broadcast, made just in case it would be needed (though I'm sure Jack will correct me if I'm wrong). However, it's rather terrifying in its calmness and quiet assurance that if you follow these instructions, everything will be alright and you won't be atomised into several million tiny pieces when the Soviets empty their silos. It's easy to see how it inspired Raymond Briggs to create When The Wind Blows in response.
Finally, I'd always vaguely remembered the rather brutal 'Think Once, Think Twice, Think Bike!' adverts, mainly because of the Not The Nine O'Clock News parody featuring Mel Smith, a cricket bat and various soft fruit. I'd not realised that it was presented by the actor Edward Judd, star of The Day The Earth Caught Fire, one of my favourite films. It's strange to see the man who I best remember reporting on the end of the world punching his own hand to inform us of the effect a car might have on a motorcycle.
And if you haven't already bought it, and are thinking of getting a copy, you might want to wait a couple of weeks as it's being rereleased with even more films added next month.
It's amazing how many of the adverts could have been quite simply replaced by a message like 'Oi! Stupid people! Don't do stupid things!' but then how impoverished would our culture be without Joe and Petunia, or Claude the Caravan to show us just what the results of imbecilic behaviour might be? And how would we have bonded in my University days without remembering Rolf Harris saying 'scared the life out of me mum and dad'?
What is interesting, though, is just how graphic some of the films got by the 70s, especially the Play Safe adverts to stop kids from getting electrocuted or run over by trains. They certainly had an effect though - I can remember treating nearby electricity substations with a healthy respect, though with that taste for grisly embellishment common to young boys, I can remember tales being spread amongst my friends of a local kid (though not from our school obviously - it was the under-13 equivalent of 'friend of a friend') who'd been fried by the power.
Of course, there's a lot of quite dull stuff on there too - the Tufty Club and Green Cross Code Man bored me senseless as a child and have the same effect now - but it's worth watching for two films in particular: Spirit Of Dark And Lonely Water and Protect And Survive.
Spirit... is one of those fascinating curios you wouldn't believe existed if you hadn't seen it. Voiced by Donald Pleasance (yes, Donald Pleasance) it's a rather spooky and unsettling film that feels as much like the trailer for a 70s horror movie as a public information film.
Protect and Survive is the infamous Government film on what to do in the event of a nuclear attack on the country. As far as I know, it was never actually broadcast, made just in case it would be needed (though I'm sure Jack will correct me if I'm wrong). However, it's rather terrifying in its calmness and quiet assurance that if you follow these instructions, everything will be alright and you won't be atomised into several million tiny pieces when the Soviets empty their silos. It's easy to see how it inspired Raymond Briggs to create When The Wind Blows in response.
Finally, I'd always vaguely remembered the rather brutal 'Think Once, Think Twice, Think Bike!' adverts, mainly because of the Not The Nine O'Clock News parody featuring Mel Smith, a cricket bat and various soft fruit. I'd not realised that it was presented by the actor Edward Judd, star of The Day The Earth Caught Fire, one of my favourite films. It's strange to see the man who I best remember reporting on the end of the world punching his own hand to inform us of the effect a car might have on a motorcycle.
And if you haven't already bought it, and are thinking of getting a copy, you might want to wait a couple of weeks as it's being rereleased with even more films added next month.
Nick got away with this at 5:15 PM
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