Self Defense ... for cowards
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Self Defense ... for cowards |
| Country of production |
USA Czechoslovakia |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1962 |
| length | 9 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Gene Deitch |
| script | Chris Jenkyns |
| production |
William L. Snyder for Rembrandt Films |
| music | H&S Quartet |
Self Defense… for Cowards is an American and Czechoslovak co-production, animated short film by Gene Deitch from 1962.
action
Long and in-depth studies have shown that brawls in bars are becoming more and more common. This becomes a problem especially for weak intellectuals. If they have to deal with a rude next-person who they just looked at, a calming gesture usually does not help to avoid being hit. Even the thought of the less glorious time as a hobby boxer during my student days is of little help at this moment. The intellectual must resort to clever methods of defense:
- If the attacker already has him on his bed , the weak intellectual simply has to go limp ("going limp action"). Nobody would beat a collapsed opponent.
- In the "Psycho-Analytical Action" everyone should have studied a book and the attacker should before the first blow with a sentence like "Why don't you tell me what really bothers you" or "It is my job to help people like you" confront. Once the attacker has laid down on the psychological couch and begins to spread his life, the weak intellectual can go unnoticed.
- In the "Hysterical Laughter Action" a spontaneous fit of laughter fends off the attack because it unsettles the attacker.
- In the "Offensive Odor Action", excessive garlic consumption before an attack leads to victory over the opponent.
- The opponent is surprised in the "Screaming Action" with sudden screams, whereby the "Screaming Action" can also be coupled with the "Offensive Odor Action".
- In the "Slight Selfmutilation Action", a small self-harm, such as stepping on yourself, leads to enough noise to fend off the attacker.
- The "fainting action" has proven itself, but requires good fall technique in the case of a spontaneous fainting attack.
- The "Friend Action" is always very effective when you are accompanied by a good and strong friend who can take care of the opponent during an attack.
- The "shock action" is effective when you appear self-confident: It consists of completely undressing in front of the attacker and then asking him to fight.
Given the wide range of possibilities, every intellectual should be able to defend himself. The advice is not suitable for the attack, however, as the man in the film must recognize, who has become rebellious and is now hit again by a blow.
production
Self Defense ... for Cowards was released on November 2, 1962. The plot is based on a book by Alice McGrath . The narrator of the film is Arthur Treacher .
Awards
Self Defense ... for Cowards was nominated for an Oscar in the category " Best Animated Short Film " in 1963 , but could not prevail against The Hole .