Silhouettes - Why’s And Otherwise (1928)

Animation using silhouettes to tell little stories and jokes. Intertitle with animation of woman walking along followed by a station porter pushing a trolley loaded with suitcases. Text reads: “Miss Welldressed going on her summer holidays. What she took - “ Then an intertitle with silhouette of woman in a bathing suit with the text “- and what she wore!“ (implication being that she over-packed!) “What is this?“ A man puts a dress over a woman’s head then puts a hat on her head. He then kneels down beside her. The silhouette changes to show the audience that it is in fact a shop assistant dressing a dummy in a shop window. “What does this shape represent?“ asks an intertitle. “Can it possibly be - Travelling in comfort?“ A nondescript black blob changes to reveal a crush of people - trying to board an already crowded underground train. “Or travelling by road?“ The same black shape turns into the front of a car with lots of people crammed into the back. “ Or perhaps it is Friday night!“