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Title:LORD PIRRIE'S APPEAL TO SHIPYARD WORKERS [Main Title]
Film Number:IWM 526
Other titles:A PATRIOTIC MESSAGE [Alternative Title]
Summary: Cartoon appealing for unskilled men for shipbuilding work in Britain, 1918.
Description: I. Before the opening credits, a portrait still of Lord Pirrie, Controller of Shipbuilding, and his printed message that shipbuilding must be increased to counter the U-boat threat. A hand draws the head and neck of the Kaiser with an arm clutching his throat. The cartoon animates itself, the arm, marked "shipyard worker" tightens round the Kaiser's throat. This is the "shipyard grip". II. A hand draws cartoons which animate themselves. A figure of Britannia, "Britons never shall be slaves". A family seated for a meal with a picture of a ship at sea on their wall. The figure of Death in a German helmet conjures a torpedo to sink the ship and steals the loaf from the family table. "We must have ships to bring us food". Back to Britannia and unskilled men signing up for the shipyards. Men working away from home in shipyards receive a subsistence allowance as well as pay. Back to Britannia pointing in the familiar 'Kitchener' gesture "Britannia needs YOU NOW !" Details are obtainable from any Employment Exchange or Post Office.
Production Details: Pathe (Production company)
Morgan, Horace (Production individual)
Kinsella, E P (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Pirrie, William J (person)
Keywords: propaganda, British - practical: recruitment (shipbuilders) (object name)
propaganda, British - inflammatory (object name)
recruitment, British civilian: shipbuilders (object name)
31/3(41) (event)
Animation (concept)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Silent
Soundtrack language: None
Title language: English
Subtitle language: English
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 480 ft; Running time: 8 mins
HD Media:Yes
Notes: Title: the title appears with Lord Pirrie's message before the opening credits, which include the alternative title
Date: the artist's hand at the end of the film signs his work with the date 1917. Lord Pirrie was appointed Controller of Shipbuilding in March 1918, and it appears that his message was tacked onto the remaining film, which was probably released before 1918 in its original form