Did You Ever See a Dream Talking?

1943
Sound
7m

Will Hay's 'silly ass' sidekick Claude Hulbert is excellent in this ingenious wartime savings propaganda comedy short.

Claude Hulbert is in splendid form here as a bumbling 'silly ass', too selfish to invest in war savings, in this wonderfully entertaining Ealing Studios short. Hulbert's Home Guard volunteer fritters his money on whisky, a new shaving mirror and a hat for his wife, until his good and bad guardian angels (both brilliantly played by Hulbert) invade his dreams and wage battle for his conscience.

Around the time this film was made, Hulbert was becoming familiar as a dithering foil for fellow clown Will Hay, and together they did their bit for the war effort. Hulbert joined Hay on the trail of a Nazi spy in the Ealing feature The Ghost of St. Michael's (1941) and on stage in patriotic revue, where the duo played inept air raid wardens. In this short, though, Claude gets a chance to showcase his often overlooked talent as a solo performer.

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.