As with most British public information films (PIF) of the 1960s and 70s, the protagonists most likely die in the end. In the final instalment of the four-strong Joe and Petunia series, the British couple illustrate the dangers driving on bad tyres by driving into a tree.
Commissioned by the UK’s Central Office of Information, the government department responsible for the films which warned the public of the dangers around them, and made by Nicholas Cartoons, these animated shorts starred Joe, a pipsqueak of a man habitually dressed in a suit, and his far more substantial wife Petunia, who was never seen without her sunglasses.
The voices were provided by Wendy Craig as Petunia, later replaced by Brigit Forsyth (28 July 1940 – 1 December 2023) for the last film, and Peter Hawkins (3 April 1924 – 8 July 2006) as Joe, an actor best known for his voice work as Bill and Ben The Flower Pot Men, the Daleks in Dr Who, Captain Pugwash in the TV show of the same name and Zippy in Rainbow.
Petunia has had a lasting impact on modern culture. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling says she named Harry Potter’s maternal aunt, Petunia Dursley, after her, albeit subconsciously:
“‘Petunia’ is the name that I always gave unpleasant female characters in games of make believe I played with my sister, Di, when we were very young,” she says. “Where I got it, I was never sure, until recently a friend of mine played me a series of public information films that were shown on television when we were young…
“One of them was an animation in which a married couple sat on a cliff enjoying a picnic and watching a man drowning in the sea below… The husband called his wife Petunia, and I suddenly wondered whether that wasn’t where I had got this most unlikely name, because I have never met anybody called Petunia, or, to my knowledge, read about them… The cartoon Petunia was a fat, cheery character, so all I seem to have taken is her name.”
Coastguard
Joe and Petunia are holidaying by the seaside. Joe spots a man on the water in a boat. The mn aves for help. Moronic Joe waves back. “Lovely day, in’t it?” says Joe. “HELP! DIAL 9-9-9 AND ASK FOR THE COASTGUARD!” says the man. Joe reads these instructions in a speech bubble above the man’s head, and called for help.
Flags
The couple are still at the seaside. Joe’s enjoying the view of sun-kissed maidens. Hs spots a beautiful mermaid in the water and wants to join her. You’d suppose Petunia would encourage him, seeing it as her chance to get shot of the fool. Instead she points out a sign advising people against swimming. So they move to new location further along the sands but a red flag warns them that the sea is too rough there as well. At last they find a safe area by the lifeguards. Petunia tells Joe to take his swim. Joe sees a musclebound lifeguard swimming away with the mermaid, and can’t be bothered.
Country Code
On a walk in the countryside, the couple stop for a rest. Joe pulls some rocks from a wall and tosses them into a well. One of them smashes a bottle. They trample through a field of corn. They leave a gate open and some cows escape. Their dog chases sheep. A farmer looms large, his face incandescent with rage. They attribute his furious glow “all that country air”. Petunia says the farmer looks unfriendly. “Can’t be anything we’ve done,” says Joe.
Worn Tyres
“Worn Tyres Kill” says the sign by the roadside as Joe and Petunia drive past. Petunia asks Joe if he’s checked the tyres. They’re “a bit smooth”, says Joe. Petunia is reassured.
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