This film is part of Free

Title of error

Gorno's Italian Marionettes

Early sound film of a popular stage puppet show that reveals the unpleasant stereotypes of its age.

Comedy 1928 6 mins

Overview

This early sound film of a popular stage puppet show is a discomfiting watch, revealing the unpleasant racial stereotypes of its age and their widely accepted use in entertainment. The parodic references to 'Jal Olsen' and alarming lyrics of Sonny Boy are probably more attributable to the UK producers than the Gorno-Dall'Acqua puppet company. Sadly, the racist stereotypes continued in at least two other puppet films, The Limejuice Mystery or Who Spat in Grandfather's Porridge? and Paleface and Redskin or Handsome Men Are Slightly Sunburned.

The Gorno-Dall'Acqua marionette company was a well-established part of a rich tradition of Italian puppetry, with UK performances including a pantomime of Cinderella in 1928 and Ali Baba in 1930. This film is unfortunately incomplete and ends rather abruptly.

Director

Jack Harrison

Genres

Comedy , Musical and Puppet (live-action)

Country

United Kingdom

Language

English

Subjects

Jazz music (pre 1950)

Watch for free

Five Guineas a Week Five Guineas a Week

Musical 1956 33 mins

1950s song and dance revue set in a colourful world of boarding houses and coffee bars

Watch for free

Devil's Rock Devil's Rock

Drama 1938 51 mins Location: Bangor

Will new open-air microphone technology give Richard Hayward the chance to silence his critics? Watch as Cushendun and Bangor steal the show.

Watch for free

Shooting Stars Shooting Stars

Comedy 1937 32 mins

Black music hall stars Scott and Whaley perform stereotypical minstrel routines in blackface in this 1937 touring revue.

Watch for free

The Rise and Fall of Nellie Brown The Rise and Fall of Nellie Brown

Musical 1964 70 mins Location: Liverpool

An incredibly joyous TV musical about a young woman's search for her long-lost cousin.

Watch for free

Twinkling Fingers Twinkling Fingers

Musical 1940 11 mins

Pianists Charlie Kunz and Mark Hambourg tickle the ivories for our entertainment in this jolly musical short.

Watch for free

Song of Toledo Song of Toledo

Musical 1953 31 mins

This merrily musical short film takes a jovial trip across picturesque 1950s Spain aboard the Talgo Express

Watch for free

Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A

Short interview 2024 24 mins

Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

Watch for free

Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A

Short interview 2024 30 mins

Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.

Watch for free

Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell

Documentary 2024 42 mins

Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.

Watch for free

Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels

Short documentary 2024 12 mins

Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.