The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Video Player is loading.
How the Whale Got his Throat
Travel into the belly of whale lore with Rudyard Kipling’s whimsical tale for little children.
From the collection of:
Overview
A small, (a)Stute Fish called Pingle and a shipwrecked Scots mariner in suspenders outwit the first and greediest whale in the world. A colourful, comic animation by Sheila Graber brings to life Rudyard Kipling’s jocular origin tale about an imaginary Leviathan, inspired by the Old Testament bible story of Jonah, Homer’s Odyssey and The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen.
Out of all the Just So Stories, Sheila Graber declares the whale fable characters her favourites. As a child, she remembers her father, Captain GW Graber, a River Tyne pilot between 1948 and 1964, pointing out the awesome whaling ships berthed on the South Shields Quay for their summer refits. She was unaware of the shocking reality of bloody butchery that the industry entailed, which drove whales to near-extinction. The rivers Tyne and Tees were once centres of whaling ship construction and trade but Norwegian-British whaling came to an end in 1963. Graber’s Just So Stories were commissioned by Nicole Jouve of Interama, French agent for The Magic Roundabout, and were first broadcast on French TV in 1983.
Related
Watch for free
Alice in Wonderland Alice in Wonderland
Fantasy 1903 10 mins Silent
The first-ever film version of Lewis Carroll's tale, made just 37 years after the novel’s publication and eight years after the birth of cinema.
Watch for free
A Year and a Day A Year and a Day
Amateur film 1954 14 mins Silent Location: Headingley
The metamorphosis of the eating machine which is the caterpillar, into an Emperor Moth, revealed in all its detail and presented in 15 minutes.
Watch for free
A Colour Box A Colour Box
Advert 1935 4 mins
Part experimental cinema, part advert for the parcel post service, always joyful.
Watch for free
That Noise That Noise
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1961 2 mins
Fall truly, madly, deeply in love with this animated proto-music video from Godfrey, Lacey and Newly
Watch for free
The Clown and His Donkey The Clown and His Donkey
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1910 3 mins Silent
A pioneering effort in bringing shadow puppetry to the cinema
Watch for free
X Rays X Rays
Comedy 1897 1 mins Silent
I've got you under my skin... early 'trick' film having fun with the new science of x-ray photography
Watch for free
South Shields Silver Jubilee Celebrations South Shields Silver Jubilee Celebrations
Amateur film 1977 6 mins Silent Location: South Shields
One big happy family on the streets of South Shields for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee visit.
Watch for free
I Frog I Frog
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1983 5 mins Location: South Shields
A new build for a homeless frog who reveals the story of his double life to a rescuer.
Watch for free
Moving On Moving On
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1976 4 mins Location: South Shields
Getting there: enjoy a racy history of transport and travel by land, sea and air.
Watch for free
Marking Time Marking Time
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1978 3 mins Location: South Shields
An uptempo look at man’s passionate obsession with time from first light to the dawn of the digital age.
Watch for free
Evolution Evolution
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1980 4 mins Location: South Shields
Staying alive, from a single cell to a big bang. Blink and you’ll miss the end.
Watch for free
Tyne and Tide Tyne and Tide
Amateur film 1980 8 mins Silent Location: South Shields
Going with the flow on the River Tyne at South Shields.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.
Watch for free
All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.
Watch for free
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Watch for free
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.