A Colour Box

A Colour Box


Part experimental cinema, part advert for the parcel post service, always joyful.

Rarely has a film exploded onto cinema screens with such a joyful splash of colour and rhythm as A Colour Box. Made as a commercial for the General Post Office, New Zealand born Len Lye painted directly onto the film strip, synchronising his dynamic shapes and squiggles with an upbeat rumba track. The film captured the heart of audiences on its release in 1935 and continues to do so today.


Tags

From the collection

Animated Classics

Showcasing the best and brightest of British animation

12 videos in this collection

What does it mean to be British? You might not have a much clearer idea after watching this animated portrait, but you will certainly be entertained
1

The United Kingdom

If anyone can bring Henri Toulouse-Lautrec’s sketchbooks to life, Geoff Dunbar can-can
2

Lautrec

This animated allegory with a message of mediation was so successful it was adopted by the United Nations
3

A Short Tall Story

4

Players

5

Music Man

Part experimental cinema, part advert for the parcel post service, always joyful.
6

A Colour Box

7

The Victor

8

Carmen

A line-drawing love story in a surreal land, made to advertise Empire Air Mail but withheld due to "Freudian" symbolism.
9

Love on the Wing

10

Fox Hunt

11

The Ladder

12

Ubu

View full collection