The Great Philips Review

The Limited Bird

January 1989 •English

John's first independent work from 1989. Won Best of Fest Shorts at the Cinequest Film Festival, CA. The film is comprised of highly rendered drawings with very little moving parts to tell a complex story of relationships "gone to the birds".

Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember - The Movie

October 2001 •English

Near Christmas, Robert "Bob The Builder" McGraw Jr. and his machine team gang of talking construction vehicles are preparing for the Winter Christmas Holiday celebration season. Bob's twin brother Thomas "Tom The Zoologist" McGraw (who lives in the Arctic Circle near the North Pole) is coming for Christmas, Spud The Scarecrow is trying to be good to get presents and a big Christmas concert is coming up with the rock band Lenny Lazenby and the Lasers (including Elton John). but unfortunately, a huge ULTIMATE DISASTER has happened with the Christmas tree and the town hall has nearly smashed to SMITHEREENS!!. will the concert work out? will Tom get there for Christmas? will Spud be on the nice list? will the tree and the town hall be alright??? find out these answers, in "A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER".

Le premier cigare

June 1897 •French

Since this is lost the content of the film can only be presumed but it was supposedly depicted a schoolboy smoking his first cigar.

Les clowns Price

January 1898 •French

Dogs

April 2021 •English

A young Polish partisan flees from the Warsaw Uprising. Whilst hiding in the yard of a countryside manor, he is chased up a tree by a large wolfhound. With his rifle out of reach, there seems to be no way to escape his predicament.

Futon

May 2012 •Japanese

Wrapped in the futon... Memories are coming up to the mind, the future is imagined, senses are recaptured, physical feelings as a woman are deeply ingrained...Everything melts pleasantly all together. In the futon, the body wonders seeking for these sense...

Promesses

January 1992 •French

An 8-minute satire on politics featuring the first French presidential election campaign broadcasts from 1965 and The Shadoks.

I Saw the Future

August 2017 •English

In a dark expanse that could be the cosmos, we hear the voice of Arthur C. Clarke, whose face - taken from a BBC archive dating back to the 1960s - appears in the distance. His features quickly dematerialize into a multitude of shimmering pixels, creating an enveloping and immersive space out of which the thoughts of the famed author of «2001: A Space Odyssey» emerge. At the heart of this spectral environment, and with a magnetic voice sending us back to the time of cathode ray tubes and the golden age of television broadcasting, A C. Clarke tells us about the arrival of digital revolution, decades ahead of his time. This film is an invitation to travel, and a crepuscular form of poetry to be experienced immersively.

Fresh Green

November 2018 •English

In an empty bar, a lone patron plays a game of pool.

Apple Thieves

January 1966 •Hungarian

Two thieving gloves try to snatch an apple.

Lili

October 2008 •Estonian

A herd of war-torn and hungry rats tries to get an answer to the question of who is Lili Marleen from a mortally wounded young soldier stuck in a projectile funnel. Is it a reminder of first love or first relationship with a prostitute earning her daily bread? Lili Marleen is not just a distant heroine from a song. Every soldier boy has her own Lili, be it his first love from school or just an imagination. But always, no matter what happens, she is waiting for her soldier underneath the lantern by the barrack gate...

△▽

November 2018 •English

Experimental one minute corridor animation from Connor Griffith

Mickey and the Beanstalk

September 1947 •English

A mysterious thief has stolen the prosperous Happy Valley's most prized possession: the musical Singing Harp. Can Mickey, Donald, and Goofy find the answer in the irritable Willie the Giant's magnificent castle up in the blue sky?

Alma

June 2009 •English

Alma, a little girl, skips through the snow covered streets of a small town. Her attention is caught by a strange doll in an antique toy shop window. Fascinated, Alma decides to enter.

The Jolson Story

October 1946 •English

At the turn of the 20th century, young Asa Yoelson decides to go against the wishes of his cantor father and pursue a career in show business. Gradually working his way up through the vaudeville ranks, Asa — now calling himself Al Jolson — joins a blackface minstrel troupe and soon builds a reputation as a consummate performer. But as his career grows in size, so does his ego, resulting in battles in business as well as in his personal life.

Please Say Something

September 2008 •English

A troubled relationship between a Cat & Mouse set in the distant future.

Be-In

February 1967 •English

Captures the spirit and essence of the great San Francisco Human Be-In of January 14, 1967. Ten thousand people imbued with peace, love and euphoria. Set to hard rock such as only San Francisco blues can produce. BE-IN contains Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Timothy Leary, Michael McClure, Lenore Kandel and Buddha. Music by Blue Cheer.

The Phonograph

January 1969 •French

An old phonograph assembles itself, plays songs on wax drums before self destructing. In many ways The Phonograph is a companion piece to Renaissance, there is nevertheless something quietly affecting about Borowczyk’s final ‘object’ animation.

America the Beautiful

November 2023 •English

The [parody] of the opening credits of the "Simpsons" series, [but] with an original story and an all-new couch gag. (Shortverse)

Ballad of Smokey the Bear

November 1966 •English

"Ballad of Smokey the Bear" tells the story of how Smokey got his name. Smokey and his forest friends encounter a creature they've never seen before that is starting fires. Smokey finds his calling in dealing with this strange new animal.