Mary's Birthday (1951) | BFI National Archive

More films by Reiniger are available to buy as part of the BFI DVD 'Lotte Reiniger: The Fairy Tale Flims' - filmstore.bfi.o...
'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)
All titles on the BFI Films channel are preserved in the vast collections of the BFI National Archive. To find out more about the Archive visit www.bfi.org.uk/...

[@CinnamonGrrlErin1]

What a beautiful short. I miss traditional animation.

[@surbon514]

How surreal and bizarre. I've never seen animation like this before!

[@mjboydrez]

Stunning!❤🎉

[@britishfilminstitute]

Happy birthday to animation legend Lotte Reiniger! Here's her gorgeously crafted Mary’s Birthday: bit.ly/1u8BKtw

[@luccakerlin2820]

Wow

[@teddyeatspudding]

How wonderful

[@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.

[@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.

[@hollpoll]

People forget what a problem house flies, bluebottles and other insects were in the 1950's in Britain and the situation wasn't helped by the fact that the milk and bread were delivered by horse and cart with their attendant droppings !

[@GamingPalooza]

looks like the similar style of animation that south park first used.

[@openfold]

Is it just me or does the fly sound very much like Wilfrid Brambell ??

[@friendlier]

So good.

[@celticboy1950]

love the posh accents

[@Andrewsmate]

Absolutely agree

[@tomservo56954]

I think you're reading a little too much into it...armies "organize" and "strike" as well.

[@futurelegendfilms]

Agreed.

[@jovossuck123]

wow

[@yohannbiimu]

Lotte Reiniger's silhouetted paper cutout animated films date back to the silent era, and this is the first one that I've seen in color and with spoken dialog. Personally, this is not the best I've seen of her work.

[@lisagarden]

Kinda timely with the Swine Flu outbreak here in California!

[@matthewbeck7649]

Kinda timely 11 years after your remark with the coronavirus and someone washing their hands to avoid infection.

[@ChernobylTaco]

I wanted the fly to succeed! Maybe in the sequel.

[@InsertName125]

Great comment. It was probably more over-reaction from the red scare.

[@lisagarden]

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

[@DeViLzzz2006]

Happy Birthday mom! (Mary) ..... and as for this wth?!?!?!

[@godwhyisthistaken]

50s were so horrible!

[@Neurodisco77]

🤡

[@jamierourketen]

anti communist!

[@Neurodisco77]

paranoid