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[Coughs and Sneezes and other films]

1946 , United Kingdom (Other)

Cat no. 1708

Three Ministry of Information films from the late 1940s.

The first film uses a series of spoof advertisements that show the shortage of goods in post-war Britain. The film switches to a shot of a cinema audience. The commentary urges women and older men to return to work to make the goods that are needed. The film ends with the caption: Extra effort now means better living sooner. (57 secs.) The second film emphasises the importance of the new National Insurance numbers. A man is pictured shaving when he hears the reminder on the wireless, urging him to make a note of his National Insurance Number. He makes a note of it in shaving cream on the mirror, in paint on the road where workmen are painting white lines. He makes a note of the number in gravy on the tablecloth, in whitewash on a window and in chalk on the side of a railway wagon. The film returns to a shot of him shaving and the film commentary explains that the National Insurance number must be used when making a claim.Please give your National Insurance Number when making a claim. (1 min 2 secs.). The final film shows how disease can spread. It begins by showing some stereotyped pranks - books fall on a man when he opens a door, a man is tripped and another has a stool kicked away from under him. The commentary explains that these are not serious. A man is shown sneezing in a number of crowded places; in a cinema, in a lift, in a queue and in an office. The danger of infection is explained and the man is taken away and taught to use a handkerchief. (1 min 28 secs.).

Keywords

Colds; Health; Industry; National Insurance; Post-war economics

Manifestations

[Coughs and Sneezes and other films]

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