The Birth of the Robot
Synopsis
This experiment was a “prestige advertisement” for Shell Motor Oil. As conventional animation became dominated by Walt Disney, many European filmmakers turned to puppets as an alternative, and Lye enlisted the help of avant-garde friends such as Humphrey Jennings and John Banting to make the amusing puppets. Exploring the still-complex color process, which involved the combination of three separate images, Lye creates such a vivid storm scene that reviewers hailed it as “proof that the color film has entered a new stage.” The music is Holst’s The Planets. - Harvard Film Archive
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Len Lye
- Screenplay & Story
- C.H. David
- Original Score
- Jack Ellitt, Gustav Holst
- Original Title
- The Birth of the Robot
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- No Language
- Runtime
- 6m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Len Lye
C.H. David
Jack Ellitt, Gustav Holst
Alex Strasser
Department Leadership Roster
Len Lye
Director
C.H. David
Writer
Alex Strasser
Director of Photography
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Birth of the Robot.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Birth of the Robot
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Birth of the Robot about?
This experiment was a “prestige advertisement” for Shell Motor Oil. As conventional animation became dominated by Walt Disney, many European filmmakers turned to puppets as an alternative, and Lye enlisted the help of avant-garde friends such as Humphrey Jennings and John Banting to make the amusing puppets. Exploring the still-complex color process, which involved the combination of three separate images, Lye creates such a vivid storm scene that reviewers hailed it as “proof that the color film has entered a new stage.” The music is Holst’s The Planets. - Harvard Film Archive
Who directed The Birth of the Robot?
The Birth of the Robot was directed by Len Lye.
Who stars in The Birth of the Robot?
The principal cast of The Birth of the Robot includes Not specified.
When was The Birth of the Robot released and how long is it?
The Birth of the Robot was released in 1936 with a total runtime of 6m.
Who composed the musical score for The Birth of the Robot?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Birth of the Robot was composed by Jack Ellitt, Gustav Holst.