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In colonial times drowning was so rife it was known as 'the New Zealand death'. This jaunty 1951 educational film is an effort to rid our lakes, rivers and seas of the unfortunate tag through cunning reverse psychology, as swimmers, fishermen and skylarking lads learn "how to drown". It eschews the confrontational realism of many a later PSA for the light-hearted approach: mixing lessons on water safety with silent film-style tomfoolery, gallows humour and the odd bit of sexual innuendo. Features footage of surf lifesavers using the now-archaic rope and reel.
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Love the treatment of such a serious subject. What's scary is that five decades later nothing has changed - only now it would be in colour.
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Short Film, 1952 (Full Length)
A less light-hearted NFU public safety film
NZ ON SCREEN 2013
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Sarah
Posted at 10.17AM - 23.07.2012
Where was this film made? The swimming instructor looks a lot like me, and I'm wondering if I'm related O_o