This film is part of Free
Bonzo
Long before Gromit met Wallace, a silent British dog became a cartoon star
Overview
Meet Bonzo, a doggone movie star in the making. This puppyish, doe-eyed loveable scoundrel was the creation of the artist George Studdy in a series of one-page drawings published in The Sketch magazine from 1922 onwards. Proving a break-out hit, Bonzo quickly appeared on stage, had his own diverse merchandise range, and featured in this 24-part cartoon series.
In his debut film Bonzo walks on screen like a popular star enters the stage, bowing to the audience and bashfully recognising the applause. Though Studdy had produced animation in WWI in the form of topical sketches, you can see that his team were still finding their feet with character based work. The scenes are somewhat static and the opening five-minute joke of the stacked plates and sausages would probably take 15 seconds in a Warner Brothers cartoon. Later episodes would feature more narrative, but like Chaplin, much of the comedy comes from the expressiveness of the star turn who is given time to build the set-up and milk every punchline.
Related
Mingo & Jerry, Thea and Jerry Mingo & Jerry, Thea and Jerry
Home movie 1931 1 mins Silent Location: Llandegfan
Mingo, Jerry and Thea: names of the dogs or people seen? Either way, they will be connected, for sure, with Isla Johnston of Bryn Mêl, Glyngarth, Anglesey, who shot the footage.
Hot Dogs Hot Dogs
Documentary 1970 10 mins Location: Bingley
The quirks of a whippet race, with novices in winklepickers learning from the old hands, all fully elucidated in broad West Yorkshire dialect.
Firewatch Dog Firewatch Dog
Government sponsored film 1943 1 mins
An English Bull Terrier warns wartime cinema goers to put their cigarettes out with more care.
Pwtan the Kitten Pwtan the Kitten
Home movie 1960 2 mins Silent Location: Pwllheli
Gardener’s nightmare: a kitten at large in a flower bed!
Farming Scenes at Little London Farming Scenes at Little London
Amateur film 1935 12 mins Silent Location: Little London
Little disturbs the peace in Little London - despite some foxhunting, polo and the Second World War!
Ginger Tom Ginger Tom
Amateur film 1950 1 mins Silent Location: Winspit
Oh to be Ginger Tom the cat and while away the hours!
New Perspectives: Tangerine New Perspectives: Tangerine
Short documentary 2025 3 mins
Harry Wallace, a student at Northumbria university, explains why Sean Baker's LA-set comedy-drama, about a transgender sex worker on the hunt for her cheating -ex, is worth your time.
Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode
Inside Film 2025 44 mins
Daniel Craig talks to Mark Kermode about his acting career, from his early role in Love is the Devil through to the Luca Guadagnino directed Queer.
New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.
New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.
Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.
On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.