Never work with animals or children," runs the old film industry saw. But British filmmakers have proven adept at both - and especially animals. Britain's wildlife filmmakers have long been the envy of the world - well before the era of Sir David Attenborough. Back in the 1910s, 20s and 30s, resourceful, dogged and sometimes eccentric pioneers were exploring the borderlands of film and science. Others, meanwhile, were drawn to animals as a subject for much the same reasons as their audiences: the eternal appeal of soft fur and tender paws, of exotic plumage or fearsome claws. Whatever your own favourites, this menagerie has something for you. WARNING: A few films in this collection show practices that may upset some viewers, including what would now be widely considered animal cruelty. We've flagged potentially sensitive content with an on-screen warning and / or a note in the text where appropriate.
Check out the "Animals on Film" collection at BFI.
