# Please help me ID this short film **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 6, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943 "2008-12-06T03:08:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/1 "2008-12-06T03:08:52Z")
I haven’t seen in since say…1978 (at latest) so we know it was made before then. Based on the tone/style, I’d guess it was made between 1965 and 1975 (maybe as early as 1960, but I’d be surprised if it was earlier.) It was something like “The History Of Mankind” or “Inventions of Man” or something of that general nature–there was rapid building of stuff–it started with fire, worked its way through the pyramids, the Romans, IIRC, during the Dark Ages, they showed a black screen for a few seconds. There was no main character or plot. It was just sort of a condensed history of the world in 20 minutes? I’m sure it was no longer than 1 hour long, maybe as short as 10-15 minutes. It was either animated (in a very sketchy style–this was no Pinocchio) or stop-motion/claymated. I saw it a couple years running in school, and I’m pretty sure it won an award. It is NOT “Allegro Non Troppo” (which has a scene very similar to the short I’m describing [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRH2iKFMlb8) -again, this isn’t it, but IIRC it’s kinda sorta similar. Or I’m conflating them.) I’d love to show it to my nephew if available. Anyone recognize it? Thanks in advance Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/2 "2008-12-06T03:15:56Z")
One day, a question like this will be posted, and I shall pounce on it, being the first to provide a definitive answer. Sadly, today is not that day. I will, however, be watching to learn the answer to this question. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/3 "2008-12-06T03:16:25Z")
It’s [“Why Man Creates”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leG6mHngH48) by Saul Bass. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/4 "2008-12-06T03:19:37Z")
THANK YOU!!! That’s exactly it. That was easy (but very appreciated) Heh–now is it available on DVD? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/5 "2008-12-06T03:22:06Z")
:eek: That was easy [http://www.pyramidmedia.com/item.php3?title\_id=1312&list=1039,1089,1376,1312&alpha=](http://www.pyramidmedia.com/item.php3?title_id=1312&list=1039,1089,1376,1312&alpha=) And they want $125.00 for a new copy of it. They’re the publishers. They’re also on crack. IIRC it was good, but it was no $125.00 worth of good. ---
**Author:** ![luvtinayothers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@luvtinayothers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luvtinayothers)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/6 "2008-12-08T17:57:45Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > :eek: That was easy > > [http://www.pyramidmedia.com/item.php3?title\_id=1312&list=1039,1089,1376,1312&alpha=](http://www.pyramidmedia.com/item.php3?title_id=1312&list=1039,1089,1376,1312&alpha=) > > And they want $125.00 for a new copy of it. They’re the publishers. They’re also on crack. IIRC it was good, but it was no $125.00 worth of good. I believe the $125 price is for schools. You can get a personal use DVD for $49 here: [http://pyramiddirect.com/cart/productpage.html?title\_id=1312&list=1979,1980,1388,1312,1981,1982,2124&alpha=W](http://pyramiddirect.com/cart/productpage.html?title_id=1312&list=1979,1980,1388,1312,1981,1982,2124&alpha=W) still expensive for a DVD but considerably cheaper than $125. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/7 "2008-12-08T18:21:14Z")
It’s a wonderful movie. I love the ping pong balls. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/8 "2008-12-08T19:30:20Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > One day, a question like this will be posted, and I shall pounce on it, being the first to provide a definitive answer. Sadly, today is not that day. I will, however, be watching to learn the answer to this question. See, this is why I limit myself to “What’s this flower?/What’s this plant?” and various “What’s this animal/bird/insect?” threads… ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/9 "2008-12-08T20:13:58Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > It’s [“Why Man Creates”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leG6mHngH48) by Saul Bass. OMG, I _remember_ that! ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/10 "2008-12-08T22:00:02Z")
Yay! Fenris is back! Now, we are so happy we do the dance of joy! ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/11 "2008-12-08T22:04:26Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > See, this is why I limit myself to “What’s this flower?/What’s this plant?” and various “What’s this animal/bird/insect?” threads… I struck gold with [Gymkata](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=4560837) once. You just have to wait in the shadows, poised to strike. Like a ninja. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/12 "2008-12-08T22:40:17Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > I struck gold with [Gymkata](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=4560837) once. You just have to wait in the shadows, poised to strike. Like a ninja. Isn’t your albedo a little high to be hiding in shadows very successfully? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/13 "2008-12-11T01:20:49Z")
> [@luvtinayothers](#): > > I believe the $125 price is for schools. You can get a personal use DVD for $49 > here: [http://pyramiddirect.com/cart/productpage.html?title\_id=1312&list=1979,1980,1388,1312,1981,1982,2124&alpha=W](http://pyramiddirect.com/cart/productpage.html?title_id=1312&list=1979,1980,1388,1312,1981,1982,2124&alpha=W) > > still expensive for a DVD but considerably cheaper than $125. Thanks! 🙂 It’s no $125 worth of movie, but it may be $50.00 worth of movie! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/14 "2008-12-11T03:13:44Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Yay! Fenris is back! Now, we are so happy we do the dance of joy! It **is** very nice to have you back again, **Fenris**! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/15 "2008-12-11T15:33:40Z")
Or you could just watch the opening sequence to Big Bang Theory for free, which condenses the entire history of the universe into 30 seconds with a nifty themesong! ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/16 "2008-12-11T16:28:01Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > It’s [“Why Man Creates”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leG6mHngH48) by Saul Bass. This is actually just the first sequence of _Why Man Creates_, entitled “The Edifice.” The complete film is around half an hour long and contains seven additional vignettes. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-short-film/475943/17 "2008-12-11T16:54:22Z")
I remeber one exchange from “The Edifice.” “I just invented the zero!” “What’s that?” “Oh, nothing.”