Helping Jessie in the garden

From the collection of

Screen Archive South East at the University of Brighton
Screen Archive South East at the University of Brighton collects, preserves, catalogues and provides public access to its collection of films and magic lantern slides. The collection charts the rise of screen culture in the region and the nation and captures many aspects of life, work and creativity in the South East from the late 19th century to the present day. It is available for research, screenings, creative re-use and commercial access.

Helping Jessie in the garden


Two Teddy Bears look on happily, as before their glassy eyes a normal suburban family falls victim to some very abnormal goings on in their back garden.

The Adams family, including their teddy-bears, relax in the garden reading magazines. But the garden is a mess so Jessie storms out of the house ordering everyone to get busy. The bears prefer to sit and watch the mayhem that ensues. Water-pipes are broken, carpets are 'mown' and everyone ends up in the pond. Even Jessie gets chased around the garden by a demonic lawnmower. The teddies laugh so much at the antics of the humans that one of them falls off the wall and into a dustbin.

The prolific and imaginative George Adams once again drafted family members to appear in this bizarre film which combines live action and stop-frame animation. Filmed in the Adams' garden in suburban Camberley, in Surrey, George's wife, Jessie, is the eponymous heroine and their youngest daughter, Wendy, ends up in the pond.


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