All Films

The Trial of Mr. Wolf

1941 • 7 min • United States of America

The Big Bad Wolf is on trial for crimes committed against Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother. When given a chance to speak in his defense, Mr. Wolf explains the supposed real story: He is the victim.

Forbidden Passage

1941 • 21 min • United States of America

This MGM Crime Does Not Pay series short looks at the U.S. Department of Immigration's efforts to halt the smuggling of illegal aliens into the country. Desperate immigrants, tired of waiting for legal entry, pay exorbitant fees and risk a grisly death to enter by illegal means.

Porky's Ant

1941 • 7 min • United States of America

In Africa, Porky tries to catch a rare pygmy ant.

Around the Statue of Liberty - A Walk Through the USA

1941 • 15 min

Nazi propaganda film “exposes” the United States and its plans against Germany and the German people. Shows so-called signs of decay, gang-wars, slums, riots of blacks, etc. Small wonder, the comment is, that the Statue of Liberty turns it back on America.

Tyrone Shapiro

1941 • 3 min

Willie Howard sings of his escapades as Tyrone Shapiro, the Bronx Cavallero, in Yiddish, Spanish, and English.

Shoeshiners and Headliners

1941 • 3 min

A Soundie with Florence Pepper.

Sweet Spirits of the Nighter

1941 • 17 min • United States of America

Officers Brendel and Kennedy are dispatched to a house where scientists are conducting experiments to revive the dead.

7 Wise Dwarfs

1941 • 4 min • United States of America

7 Wise Dwarfs is an educational short animated film commissioned by the National Film Board of Canada as a short film for educating the Canadian public about war bonds during World War II. The short features the seven dwarfs from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, four years after the characters made their screen debut.

Down Mexico Way

1941 • 54 min • United States of America

Like 1940's Melody Ranch, the 1941 Gene Autry vehicle Down Mexico Way was designed as a "special", to be promoted separately from Autry's regular B-western series as an A-picture attraction. The story gets under way when a pair of con artists, Gibson (Sidney Blackmer) and Allen (Joe Sawyer), breeze into the town of Sage City claiming to be movie producers. The two scoundrels promise to film a movie in the little burg on the condition that the townsfolk pony up the necessary production fees.

Churchill's Island

1941 • 21 min • Canada

The people of Britain resist the German air force and navy with help from North America. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with Library and Archives Canada in 2005.

Of Pups and Puzzles

1941 • 10 min • United States of America

This short film shows how the war department utilizes a Ph.D., a chimp, and three dogs to help design aptitude tests for men applying for work.

Death Valley Outlaws

1941 • 56 min • United States of America

Ambushed by the Vigilantes, a dying friend gets Johnny who was only passing through to take up the fight. To get in with the gang, Johnny poses as an outlaw and then beats them to a gold shipment by robbing the train ahead of them. This gets him invited into the gang. They are all masked and unknown to Johnny, one of them is his brother.

Red Men on Parade

1941 • 9 min • United States of America

This Traveltalk series short visits a large intertribal meeting of American Indians from all over the western United States. Members of about 30 tribes attended the event, which lasts several days. Attendees perform various tribal ceremonies, demonstrate their skills at crafts (pottery, weaving, doll making), and participate in rodeo events.

Words for Battle

1941 • 8 min • United Kingdom

Poetry by Rudyard Kipling, John Milton, and William Blake, and excerpts from speeches by Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill, all read by Laurence Olivier, illuminate documentary footage of England during its defense against the Nazi blitz in World War II. This short film serves as both propaganda and as a rallying cry to the British people.

The Gay Knighties

1941 • 9 min • United States of America

Jim Dandy is having a dream about a fierce ogre that is terrifying a mythical kingdom of your. Sir Archibald Cornwal Dandy, a wandering troubadour, meets the ogre on a deserted road and charms him with his lute. Later, Sir Archy serenades a beautiful princess and is thrown into the dungeon by the King for being impertinent. He plays his lute in the underground prison and the ogre bursts through the castle walls, and everybody runs for their lives, but Archy saves the day.

The Mechanical Monsters

1941 • 10 min • United States of America

Superman battles a criminal mastermind and his robot army.

Olive's $weep$take Ticket

1941 • 6 min • United States of America

Olive gets a phone call that she has won first prize in a sweepstake. After a frantic search, she locates her ticket, only to have it blow out the window. Help, Popeye!

Popeye Meets Rip Van Winkle

1941 • 6 min • United States of America

Rip Van Winkle is being thrown out for nonpayment of rent (for twenty years). Popeye happens by and carts the sleeper home, but soon discovers that Rip has a sleepwalking problem that gets both of them into some trouble with some dwarves.

This Is the Bowery

1941 • 11 min • United States of America

In this somewhat whitewashed documentary on Manhattan's Bowery a newcomer to the area takes his first step toward redemption after a meal, bed, and inspiring talk.

Toot That Trumpet

1941 • 3 min • United States of America

The Deep River Boys sing an exciting version of Toot that Trumpet (1941), staged as a club setting with lots of dancers, Chinese paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling and a lively trumpet player.

Fire Cheese

1941 • 7 min • United States of America

Gabby makes good on his pledge to 'be helpful' by assisting the local fire department while they put out a fire. When the chief incapacitates himself by getting Gabby's hat stuck over his head, Gabby takes charge with with disastrous consequences.

Mediterranean Ports of Call

1941 • 9 min • United States of America

This Traveltalk short visits the ports of Algiers and Monaco in the Mediterranean.

Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 1

1941 • 10 min • United States of America

Hedda Hopper guides us through some of Hollywood's sights; the home of William S. Hart and a Kay Kyser recording-session being among them.

1941

1941 • 4 min • United States of America

In December, 1941, using music by Stravinsky, this film provides a reaction to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. An egg is smashed by a hammer; red color with white and then blue dominates the frame. Blue paint runs; small bulbs float. The dark colors spread. White, red, blue, and black dominate the frame. Then comes fire. The bulbs burn and break. A broken bulb's filaments are exposed.