This film is part of Free
Othello
An animated Moor of Venice brings comedy to Shakespeare’s tragedy, in this cut-out cartoon with some neat tricks up its sleeve
Overview
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy” – cut-out animation is often seen as something of a poor cousin when it comes to cartoon technique, but as this film fragment shows, it has a lot to offer. Anson Dyer produced a series of short animated burlesques of Shakespeare for leading British producer Cecil Hepworth, of which just two appear to survive, with Othello incomplete.
Look at the character’s eyes following the artist’s hand as he finishes his drawing. Or the clever interplay as Dyer brings a match to a drawn candle, blackens a cork on the flame and starts to darken the actor’s face, before passing it to the character to finish off the job himself. These are the cut-out equivalents of Felix the Cat’s tail turning into a question mark or a golf club, or Bugs Bunny messing with Daffy in Duck Amuck (1953).
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
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.