Goodbye Mr. Germ

"Goodbye Mr. Germ" is a distinctive educational short film directed by Edgar Ulmer, aimed at very young children to teach them about tuberculosis. Set on a dreary, rainy evening at home, the story begins with siblings John and Mary playfully teasing their father about his preference for science books over a trip to the movies. Their jabs focus on his fascination with a picture of the tubercle bacillus, sparking an imaginative response from their father. He slips into a whimsical reverie, wondering what it would be like to communicate with this germ. This leads to the creation of a “germ radio” in the film’s animated sequences, brilliantly crafted by H.L. Roberts. Through this device, the germ, personified as the charming yet mischievous “Tee Bee,” narrates its own tale—explaining how tuberculosis spreads and the importance of combating it. The film blends live-action family scenes with engaging animation to deliver its health message in an accessible, captivating way for its young audience.