Persil: Mrs Mopp's Birthday

Persil: Mrs Mopp's Birthday

Humorous WWII public information film and Persil advert rolled into one, starring the popular radio character Mrs Mopp.

In this comic wartime public information film-cum-advert, the popular radio character sells both Persil washing powder and the Government's 'Make Do and Mend' campaign. What on Earth can Mrs Mopp do with a pair of silk stockings presented as a birthday present? She can't wear and take care of them! Or so she thinks. A young girl shows her how to wash and dry them - using Persil, naturally - in such a way as to make them last longer.

Mrs Mopp, a char lady played by Dorothy Summers, was a much loved character in the hugely popular BBC radio comedy series It's That Man Again, which aired between July 1939 and January 1949. Summers had first appeared on the show during the third series of June-July 1941, but it was during the fourth series of September 1941 to May 1942 where she introduced the Mrs Mopp character, and with her catchphrase of 'Can I do you now, sir?' she quickly became one of the show's most popular figures. Summers remained with the series until 1945.

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From the collection

Cinema Advertising Comes of Age

The 1930s saw screen advertising find its voice. That wasn't just down to the arrival of the 'talkies', but to the increasing professionalism of ad agencies and production companies. 

Through WWII and the postwar austerity years and into the 'never had it so good' 1950s - when it had to compete with the new commercial television service - cinema advertising offered a bigger bang for your advertising buck.

31 videos in this collection

Symphony in Colour (Persil Advert)

  • 1942

Music Hath Charms

  • 1935

The Warning (Gibbs S.R. Toothpaste)

  • 1941

Every Man His Own Housewife (Persil Advert)

  • 1940

Let's Ask the Ladies

  • 1937

Murder in the Air

  • 1935

Bee Wise!

  • 1946
The key word in the book of fashion is simplicity

Sketchbook of Fashion (Knights Castile Advert)

  • 1940

Aladdin and the Junior Genie

  • 1942

Signs of the Times No.3

  • 1950
"Gee, old age!" Malicious Father Time doesn't stand a chance against a cartoon cupid armed with a big box of washing powder.

Fable of the Fabrics

  • 1942

It all Depends Which Way You Look at It (Solidox Advert)

  • 1941

Signs of the Times No 196

  • 1945

A Thief in the Night

  • 1930

Change for the Better

  • 1949
Use Rinso and help defeat Hitler! Soap brand Rinso deploys some savvy wartime advertising.

Little Miss Muddlehead (Rinso Advert)

  • 1943

What's Missing from this Picture?

  • 1946

Signs of the Times

  • 1948

Signs of the Times

  • 1950

Mousewife's Choice

  • 1948

Mrs Mopp's Birthday

  • 1942

The Trawl in Action

  • St Austell Bay
  • 1950

Signs of the Times No.2

  • 1950

Molar Mischief (Solidox Advert)

  • 1946

Shippam's Guide to Opera

  • 1955

Put Una Money for There

  • 1956
A curious blue lake, a wonder tablet, a river boat and a picnic essential - sounds like the beginning of a story!

Signs of the Times No.58

  • 1941

Says Sirdani

  • 1945

Thief in the Night (Persil Advert)

  • 1944

Changing Hues

  • 1922

Cinema Commercial - Candy Cushions

  • 1920
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