Bill Baxter's Dilemma

A dramatised advertising film for Colman's Waverley Oats.

Bill Baxter and his family are around the table eating breakfast - very thick porridge. The children try to feed theirs to the cat but the cat runs away in alarm. Bill Baxter almost chokes on his and leaves for work, porridge uneaten. At work - he is a window cleaner - he sees a child in an upstairs nursery eating wonderful porridge. The little girl goes to the window and gives Bill Baxter some of her porridge. It tastes so good that Bill hallucinates about seeing fields of oats. The little girl offers him more porridge and then whispers the name of the brand into his ear. Almost immediately, Bill has forgotten the name. Looking around the room he sees some Walter Scott novels on the bookshelf. This reminds him. He is so delighted that he falls off the ladder - and promptly forgets again. He collects his ladder and bucket and wanders into the City Centre. Here he sees an advertisement for the 'Flying Scotsman' non-stop London and Edinburgh. This reminds him again. However, he is hit by a passing truck and forgets. He takes his ladder and bucket and dodges through traffic to a shop, the window of which displays Waverley Oats. He enters, still carrying his ladder and bucket, and buys a packet. Back at the Baxter home, Mrs. Baxter is making porridge with Waverley Oats, carefully measuring the oats. The clock moves to eight o'clock and the scene moves to the family breakfast. This appears a happier occasion. Bill Baxter tries to remind his wife to buy Waverley Oats but still can't remember its name. He goes to the cupboard and brings out the box. There is a close up shot of the box and then the film ends by informing people that Waverley Oats are British made and to buy them is to help 'our' farmers.

Intertitles

Bill Baxter's breakfast consisted of porridge. Of some consistency. I'll be off to work. That smells like real porridge. Who are you, funny man? I'm the window cleaner- - can I taste your porridge? It's called - Would you like some more? Lovely! - I can almost see the oats growing. Now what was the name of them there oats? It's gone clean out of my head! That's it! Blimey! - if I ain't forgot that name again. Waverley Station! Now, where did I see that name? Now missus, don't you never forget to always ask for ...Waverley Oats. WAVERLEY OATS is ALL BRITISH. Grown and prepared in this country. Make your porridge with WAVERLEY OATS and help our own farmers.

Background Information

In 1919 Colmans began to manufacture Waverley Oats, later re-named Three Bears' Oats.