Teenagers Learn to Swim

A cartoon image of a blonde girl outside in a field shown with her fairy godmother in the air and a thought bubble containing a boy.

Made by Nicholas Cartoons, this animated film encourages teenagers to learn to swim. Produced in 1972 when hotpants were in fashion and young women were referred to by men as 'birds'!

Outside in a field stands a girl with long, blonde hair. She's wearing a t-shirt, hotpants and red boots.

She's thinking about her boyfriend. A thought bubble containing his image appears above her head…

Girl:

This is me, thinking as usual about Dave.

Dave is super! Dave can do anything!

Image changes to Dave singing and playing a guitar, Dave riding a moped and Dave posing with a football before returning to the first image.

Oh, he's great, he really is!

When "POW!" up pops my Fairy Godmother with her "I'll give you three wishes" routine.

Wish number one is easy...

The girl whispers her wish into her fairy godmother's ear and Dave comes down from the thinks balloon to be beside her.

Next, I wish we were both at the seaside.

Background changes to a beach scene. Then their clothes change to swim-wear.

"Come on, Dave, let's swim," I say.

Dave gestures dismissively.

"It's just not my scene, man," says Dave.

What he really meant was, he couldn't swim.

Girl in sea, whistles for her fairy godmother.

Still got one wish left, remember.

Girl makes her final wish and another bloke materialises next to her in the water.

Meet Mike...

Mike:

Hello!

Girl:

...He swims like a fish!

They swim off.

Cut to Dave still standing on the beach who whistles for the fairy godmother.

Fairy:

Yes?

Dave:

I wish... I wish I didn't keep losing me birds!

Fairy:

Then learn to swim, young man. Learn to swim!

Voiceover:

If you can't swim then ask about lessons at your local swimming baths. Do learn to swim; it could save your life.

Caption: KEEP IN THE / SWIM / ASK AT YOUR LOCAL / SWIMMING BATHS

This film is available to watch for free online as part of The National Archives' Public Information Films collection.

Teenagers Learn To Swim

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