Bob in the Pound

1943
Silent
3m

Fun-filled singalong savings ad with a dangerously catchy theme tune.

Learn to save with this animated karaoke-style cinema ad! Featuring a cartoon character with the name Bob - the colloquial term for a pre-decimalisation one-shilling piece - the film was made to encourage the wartime public to invest in government savings bonds for a 'brighter' post-war future.

The voice speaking from the radio in comic interplay with 'Bob' belongs to Tommy Handley, the presenter of the BBC's hugely popular wartime radio comedy show It's That Man Again. ITMA, as it was affectionately known, involved an extensive and eccentric cast of characters - including charlady Mrs Mopp, who featured in a number of humorous cinema advertisements for Persil washing powder. These included Mrs Mopp Asks Why (1943), also available to view on BFI Player.

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.