Don't Talk to Strangers - The Public Information Film Part One

Nothing gets through to human beings more than scare tactics. The British public information film has been around for years and more recently we see shocking images of children lying in the road - the product of a drunk or speeding driver. Or a screaming woman locked in the back of an unlicensed mini cab. The government's way of reminding us what our parents aren't still telling us and are all hopefully effective messages.

I have always been quite fascinated with them. The most significant PIFs when I was growing up were things that resonate with all children the world over. The following film, Charley Says, was one of a series of animations shown in the 1970's and 80's and featured a small boy and his cat facing scary things like being approached by strangers.



The next film, Lonley Water, first shown in the 1970's, was made to deter children from playing near lakes or frozen water. I think you'll agree, pretty scary!



And this next one they showed us at school one afternoon. Who would've thought playing with a Frisbee would be so dangerous?

A little more graffic these days, purhaps. They are matter-of-fact and make no apologies. A medium not to be underestimated, the PIFs have the authority to shock and appall. They come uninvited into our living room through the TV, where other genres of film dare not tread before the watershed.