Wisdom of the Wild

1940
Sound
10m

Fun mixture of natural history and wartime public information.

A wildlife film with a difference: it has A Message for any humans in the house: "The squirrel in the tree, the fox below, the birds, insects, all know that a time of plenty will not last forever." In other words, wartime viewers, enduring austerity and hardship, can learn a thing or two from animals' economical feeding habits. It's an entertaining hybrid of public information and natural history, made by a wildlife filmmaking 'dream team', including director Mary Field and cinematographers F. Percy Smith and Oliver Pike, all of them associated with the popular film series Secrets of Life.

The feeding and food storage habits of wild animals and birds; the film suggests that humans could eat more healthily and economically.

WWII at the Pictures

Once the cinemas were declared open for business, the film industry kept the reels turning, serving up a mixed diet of news, morale-boosting propaganda and uplifting entertainment.

In the early days of the war, cinemas were closed as a public safety measure, but authorities were soon persuaded of film's many virtues in wartime. Newsreels kept spirits up and relayed vital information, documentaries rigorously explored every aspect of life and work on the home front, and an array of animations and short films imparted practical tips and guidance.

Feature films, meanwhile, offered equal parts inspiring wartime stories and escapist fantasy to bring relief from everyday trials. And with gender roles evolving and so many men away from home, producers were forced to pay more attention (long overdue!) to the tastes and interests of women cinemagoers - with fascinating and enduring results.