This film is part of Free
Not Cricket
A cartoon Caribbean mini-musical scripted by a Nobel Prize winner and accompanied by a Trinidadian guitar legend
Overview
When it comes to pedigree, few adverts can claim such illustrious origins. This cartoon Caribbean mini-musical was scripted by V.S Naipaul, who was just starting a writing career that would garner him a Nobel Prize in Literature. Music comes from Fitzroy Coleman, a Trinidadian guitar legend, and the animation was from the ground-breaking Larkins Studio who were pushing at the boundaries of cartoon style.
Having collaborated with Larkins on the successful Put Una Money For There (also available on the BFI Player) for African audiences, Barclays were keen to explore a similar approach in the West Indies. The director of the commercial, Richard Taylor, recruited Coleman and fellow Trinidadian Naipaul to give some local authenticity to this tale of robbery and redemption. The characters were designed without faces on Barclays’ advice to avoid representing people whose skin colour and racial origin varied throughout the West Indies. As an advert the film was considered a failure as West Indies audiences found it patronising and parochial to Trinidad. Ignore the spurious sales message and it remains a delight to watch today.
Related
Your Shopping Guide Your Shopping Guide
Advert 1930 5 mins Silent
Lingerie, wallpaper, garages - there's something on offer for everyone in these lo-fi local cinema ads from Darlington
Air to Wear Air to Wear
Advert 1957 2 mins Silent
As full of holes as his Aertex shirt, Uncle Jeff’s tall tales are captured in crayon in this animated cinema ad
Ovaltine - Train Ovaltine - Train
Advert 1985 1 mins
Ovaltina will pick you up! With an electronic 80s synth and a catchy theme tune, Ovaltina parachutes in to save the day
Love on the Range Love on the Range
Advert 1939 6 mins
An animated Western mock-opera about Horlicks? Bring it on!
Molar Mischief Molar Mischief
Advert 1946 2 mins
Look out, germs at work! These loveable molar mischief making puppets really dig tooth decay.
Dolly Put the Kettle On Dolly Put the Kettle On
Advert 1947 2 mins
A spurned doll turns knife-wielding femme fatale when she doesn't get her teddy bear, in this cartoon cinema ad for tea
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.
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.
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.
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.
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.