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Hands, Knees and Bumps a Daisy (1969)
 

BFI

Main image of Hands, Knees and Bumps a Daisy (1969)
 
35mm, colour, 3 mins
 
DirectorGeorge Dunning
Production CompanyTV Cartoons
SponsorNational Coal Board
PhotographyJohn Williams
Commentator Stanley Unwin

The hazards of working in mines, and the need to wear protective clothing.

Show full synopsis

This film, about the need to wear protective gloves and knee pads, uses colourful cartoon graphics and a humorous soundtrack as an effective reminder to National Coal Board employees of safety guidelines that they already know, in an entertaining and non-patronising manner.

The first half of the film has the 'deep joy' of Stanley Unwin's 'Unwinese' comic dialogue, which explains in his inimitable style why protective equipment should be worn. Married to the soundtrack is the equally freewheeling style of George Dunning's animation, using vibrant colour washes and thick lines which deliberately boil on the screen due to the variation from frame to frame, something mainstream animation tries its hardest to avoid.

The second half of the film, featuring striptease by a buxom blonde who has own use for the safety equipment, comes almost as a reward for the attention of the audience to the first half. More amusing than titillating, a subtle change in Dunning's animation style is also noticeable. Where the first half featured thick black outlines to the figures, here these lines are almost completely absent with only colour washes used to represent the female form.

Jez Stewart

*This film is included in the BFI DVD compilation 'Portrait of a Miner: The National Coal Board Collection Volume 1'.

Click titles to see or read more

Video Clips
Complete film (3:43)
GALLERY / SCRIPTS / AUDIO
SEE ALSO
First Adventures of Thud and Blunder, The (1964)
Man Failure (1971)
Too Late Now (1976)
Dunning, George (1920-1979)