This film is part of Free
The Six-armed Image
Comic strip animal favourites of the 1920s continue their epic animated adventure around the world
Overview
Were you in the Wilfredian League of Gugnuncs? Pip the dog, Squeak the penguin and Wilfred the rabbit were comic strips stars of the 1920s and beyond. Bertram Lamb and A.B. Payne’s characters appeared in the Daily Mirror from 1919 to 1956, and in 1921 they featured in an animated series produced by Lancelot Speed.
Here they disembark an airship to land on the mysterious Island of Anchovy, escape the clutches of a mysterious idol, board a steamer to Calcutta and reach the top of Mount Everest. That this is all squeezed into one episode (number 11 of perhaps 25) shows how epic their journey was. Sadly only a handful of episodes survive, but see Popski’s Early Life also on the BFI Player.
Related
Falling in the Water Falling in the Water
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1973 1 mins
Kids don't always listen to their parents. But in the 70s they certainly listened to a giant ginger tabby cat...
Goodwill To All Dogs Goodwill To All Dogs
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1960 6 mins
An animated xmas with paper dog Snap
The Feline Fun The Feline Fun
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1986 13 mins Silent
The shenanigans of Cuthbert-Tiggy, the mischievous kitty who enjoys a tipple. An intriguing combo of stop-motion animation and live action.
Bonzo No. 5 Bonzo No. 5
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1925 9 mins Silent
Dreams of a Rarebit Hound, as the loveable cartoon pup Bonzo discovers that a late night sausage feast can lead to some disturbing dreams
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
Superted Superted
Children's 1975 9 mins
Don’t tell the Spotty man but Superted has a new friend. A stop motion predecessor of the superhero teddy idea
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.