Stars and Stripes

One would be forgiven for mistaking 'Stars and Stripes (1939)' as the work of a patriotic American. Norman McLaren, a Scottish-born animator, moved to America in 1939 – on the cusp of WWII – and produced this three-minute animated film as a appreciative tribute to his host country (McLaren would move to Canada, where he achieved his greatest success, two years later). Is 'Stars and Stripes,' perhaps, a subtle call-to-arms for the then- neutral United States? McLaren uses John Philip Sousa's famous military march "Star and Stripes Forever" to set the tone. Stars, stripes and other symbols dart around each other, as though assembling for duty. I spotted the Star of David in there; an ode to America's admirable cultural diversity? McLaren – like Brakhage, eschewing use of a camera – drew pen- and-ink shapes directly onto 35mm film, and the brilliant, radiant colours were added later in the process.

This is an art film from the collection entitled "Unseen Cinema: Early American Avant-Garde Film 1894-1941"--a group of artsy shorts that would probably hold little interest to the average viewer.

This is a short from Norman McLaren showing his love of America--though he apparently later loved Canada even more and soon immigrated there (he was originally from the UK). While the title is "Stars and Stripes Forever", this is NOT the tune that is used. Whatever the tune is, it's set to carious patriotic images that were all hand-drawn onto blank film stock and color was added later. Well done for what it is, but a film I really cannot give a numerical score--it's just too odd and experimental.