Keep Them Safe, Keep Them Happy
- Norwich
- 1939
Cheeky comic Arthur Askey advocates safe sneezing into a handkerchief to stop the spread of germs.
Big-hearted Arthur Askey advises cinema audiences to have a handkerchief handy in this fun-packed public information film, which warns of the dangers of germ-spreading sneezing in wartime. Skilfully combining cheeky comedy with a message of caution, Askey, in his element here, makes a friendly and down-to-earth frontman for the Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases health campaign.
Arthur Askey shows the importance of using one's handkerchief when one has a cold.
The Blitz receded after May 1941, but even after the Battle of Britain, the nation faced a barrage of incendiary bombs, V-1s and V-2s. While young men fought Axis powers across three continents, their families listened anxiously to the wireless, while many worried too about children far from home. But in the face of the destruction, sirens, blackouts and hours in shelters, the now-legendary 'Blitz spirit' kept despair at bay. Britain held her nerve thanks to mutual support, defiance and wit - plus a good grumble and as many cups of tea as rationing allowed.