Grumblens

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The Grumblens
Frames from the Grumblens - Australian War Memorial F01886.png
Directed by George D. Malcolm
CinematographyHarry Malcolm
Edited byGus Lowry
Production
company
Distributed byDepartment of Information
Release date
  • July 1943 (1943-07)
Running time
12 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

The Grumblens is a 1943 Australian propaganda film from the Department of Information. It combined documentary footage with dramatic sections. The film released theatrically. [1]

Contents

Premise

A couple, Mr and Mrs Grumblens, complain about the fact that the war means they are unable to buy luxuries like beer at the pub. A war correspondent shames them by pointing out how their shortages contribute to the war effort.

Cast

Reception

The Daily Telegraph said "Slickly produced, informative in explanation of shortages, the "Grumblens" strike a naive patch here and there: the propaganda gets preachy. On the whole, however, it is... to sum up: a good job." [3]

Smith's Weekly said "Wilfrid Thomas delivers his homily to the selfish couple with good effect, the comedy scenes are refreshing, and the picture may do some good to those people who complain that the war has deprived them of what are really non-essentials in life." [4]

Other war shorts for the Australian government from Commonwealth Film Laboratories included:

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References

  1. "Advice To Grumblers". The Mercury. Vol. CLVIII, no. 22, 672. Tasmania, Australia. 31 July 1943. p. 5. Retrieved 21 March 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  2. "PEOPLE BEHIND THE VOICES TRYING ON NEW FROCKS IS JUST A BORE TO MURIEL STEINBECK", ABC Weekly, Sydney: ABC, 14 July 1945, nla.obj-1401600263, retrieved 21 March 2024 via Trove
  3. "THE NEW FILMS". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. IV, no. 37. New South Wales, Australia. 25 July 1943. p. 23. Retrieved 21 March 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  4. "newsreels". Smith's Weekly . Vol. XXV, no. 23. New South Wales, Australia. 7 August 1943. p. 19. Retrieved 21 March 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  5. ""AUSTRALIA HAS WINGS"". Worker. Vol. 51, no. 2798. Queensland, Australia. 18 February 1941. p. 17. Retrieved 21 March 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  6. ""The Road to Victory" to Be Released Friday". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 14 January 1941. p. 16 (CITY FINAL LAST MINUTE NEWS). Retrieved 21 March 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Panic-Buying Film's Record". News . Vol. 38, no. 5, 877. South Australia. 29 May 1942. p. 6. Retrieved 21 March 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Five Films To Aid Loan". The Advertiser (Adelaide) . Vol. LXXXVI, no. 26516. South Australia. 29 September 1943. p. 7. Retrieved 21 March 2024 via National Library of Australia.