This film is part of Free
John Bull's Sketch Book
This WWI cartoon rouses the British lion, bringing to life the December 1914 German Naval raid on Scarborough with visual flourishes.
Overview
Watch very closely: while many of the effects in this film seem basic to modern eyes, some subtle visual flourishes are ready to impress. Watch the lion as the "scrap of paper" (the 1839 Treaty of London) is torn in half. Look out for the torpedo and the cheeky wink from Admiral John Jellicoe. But most importantly, watch the mother and her children witnessing the German raid on Scarborough.
On the morning of 16 December 1914, the Imperial Navy fired over 1,000 shells on the Northeast towns of Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby. With over 130 lives lost and nearly 600 casualties, including many civilians, the event sent a strong propaganda message to the British. The attack on Scarborough provoked particular outrage because of its reputation as a seaside holiday town rather than any kind of military target. Dudley Buxton's 15 frames of character animation of the young family perfect raise the emotional impact of his film.
Related
John Bull's Animated Sketchbook No. 4 John Bull's Animated Sketchbook No. 4
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1915 5 mins Silent
An animated recreation of the sinking of the Lusitania is the centrepiece of this pioneering mix of comedy, satire and outrage in cartoon propaganda.
Oh'phelia A Cartoon Burlesque Oh'phelia A Cartoon Burlesque
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1919 10 mins Silent
To bob, or not to bob? That is the question for Ophelia in this early animated Hamlet, starring a far from gloomy Dane
The Right Spirit The Right Spirit
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1931 9 mins
Don’t judge a book by its cover but do judge a political party by its garage in this Conservative cartoon from the height of the depression.
Giro the Germ Episode 1 Giro the Germ Episode 1
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1927 8 mins Silent
The germs in this silent 1920s cartoon seem to have caught the Flapper bug
The Latest News The Latest News
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1904 1 mins Silent
The “Bill Bailey” punchline might have lost its meaning over the years, but this comic gag short features some of Britain’s earliest animation
Animated Putty Animated Putty
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1911 4 mins Silent
Long, long before Wallace met Gromit filmmakers performed malleable magic to bring clay to life
Yorkshire Riviera Yorkshire Riviera
Amateur film 1958 19 mins Silent Location: Redcar
A nostalgic dip and drive around the North Yorkshire coast in the sun-kissed 50s.
Scarborough Ahoy! Scarborough Ahoy!
Drama 1994 33 mins Location: Scarborough
A straight woman and a gay man cruise their way across North East England in this Tennessee Williams-inspired short.
'Scarboro' 'Scarboro'
Non-Fiction 1922 1 mins Silent Location: Scarborough
Hockey on the beach at Scarborough
Pleasant Dreams Pleasant Dreams
Home movie 1955 4 mins Silent Location: Scarborough
The relativity of pleasure, as seen with one family escaping Castleford for the delights of a brisk Scarborough beach, sea and donkey rides.
Max Jaffa: Farewell to Scarborough Max Jaffa: Farewell to Scarborough
Documentary 1986 24 mins Location: Scarborough
Middle England out on the east coast of Yorkshire enjoy the soothing music of Max Jaffa in his final year, playing for his devoted followers.
One Man's Meat One Man's Meat
Amateur film 1951 7 mins Silent Location: Scarborough
Not too sure what the poison would be in this delightful film of two couples enjoying the Yorkshire coast, certainly not the end of the day beer.
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.
The Ice Tower - Extended Q&A The Ice Tower - Extended Q&A
Inside Film 2026 36 mins
Writer-director Lucile Hadžihalilović explains how she spun her own dark fairytale out of Hans Christian Andersen's Snow Queen.