We want to get to know you more to help improve our service. Please take 2 minutes to fill out our survey here. Thank you! test2

Discover content and watch films on our latest and improved iOS app. Download it here!

This film is part of Free

Hints and Tips No. 2

Handy hacks for 1940s domestic goddesses, including outlandish tips for keeping flowers fresh and treats for 'Mr. Puss'

1945 16 mins Silent

Overview

It's easy to mock the not-so-simple tips offered in this 1940s cinemagazine - the flowers that emerge after an arduous preservation method look rather wilted - but the genuine creativity on display and the gentle, silly humour is hard to resist. And with the exception of the uncomfortable inclusion of a 'golliwog', the plush cuddly toys made at the start are utterly charming.

The majority of the tips offered focus on saving the pennies, a pressing concern in 1940s austerity Britain. By the end of the 1940s only 2% of British households had freezers, and much of the advice in the series focuses on making food last as long as possible.