Drinking Water (1945)
A punchy 1945 wartime animated short in which Private McGillicuddy learns the painful price of ignoring safe water rules.
Drinking Water - Movie Information
- Original Title: Drinking Water
- Release Year: 1945
- Directed by: Hugh Harman
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Animation
- Runtime: 4m
- Original Language: English
- Production Countries: United States of America
- Alternative Titles: Commandments for Health Drinking Water (US)
Drinking Water - Plot
The Third Commandment for Health: Drinking Water. Thou shalt not drink water from any other source than that designated, else thou become victim to an unhappy fate more painful than Japanese lead. Thou shalt use thy water sparingly and wisely else thy days and thy brothers days shall be numbered. Private McGillicuddy discovers what happens when you don't follow that commandment.
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Drinking Water - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Hugh Harman
Main Cast
- Mel Blanc
Drinking Water - FAQs
What is Drinking Water (1945) about?
Drinking Water is a 1945 wartime animated short directed by Hugh Harman. It follows Private McGillicuddy, who ignores military rules about safe water sources and suffers painful consequences. The film was part of a health commandments series aimed at educating soldiers about field hygiene and water safety.
Is Drinking Water a wartime educational film?
Yes, Drinking Water was produced as a wartime instructional animated short. It presents the "Third Commandment for Health," warning soldiers against drinking from unauthorized water sources. The comedic approach through Private McGillicuddy's misfortune was designed to make the safety message memorable and engaging for military audiences.
Who voices Private McGillicuddy in Drinking Water?
The legendary Mel Blanc voices Private McGillicuddy in Drinking Water. Blanc, famous for his iconic work as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and countless other beloved cartoon characters, brings his trademark comedic energy to this short animated cautionary tale about water safety.
Where can you watch Drinking Water (1945)?
You can find streaming and viewing options for Drinking Water on JustWatch, which lists all available platforms in your region. As a 1945 short film, availability may vary, so checking JustWatch is the easiest way to see where it's currently accessible.
Who directed the 1945 animated short Drinking Water?
Drinking Water was directed by Hugh Harman, a pioneering animator best known for co-founding Harman-Ising Productions alongside Rudolf Ising. Harman had a long career in animation, contributing to early Looney Tunes and MGM cartoons before turning his talents to wartime educational shorts like this one.
How long is the animated short Drinking Water?
Drinking Water runs just 4 minutes, making it a very brief but pointed animated short. That compact runtime was typical of wartime instructional films, which needed to deliver their safety messages quickly and efficiently to military audiences without demanding too much of their time.
What is the message behind Drinking Water (1945)?
The film drives home a clear health and safety message: soldiers must only drink from designated, approved water sources in the field. Contaminated water could cause severe illness, and the short uses Private McGillicuddy's painful fate to hammer that point home in a way that's hard to forget.
What are similar animated films to Drinking Water?
If you enjoy classic and offbeat animation, you might also like Good Scouts (1938), Night of the Animated Dead (2021), The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009), or The House (2022). These films span different eras and styles but share a love of distinctive, character-driven animated storytelling.
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