Film Record: Jones Beach

Still image from Jones Beach in Movie Makers, Dec. 1949, 452.

Date produced: 1949

Filmmaker(s):

George Mesaros

Production credits:

• Joseph J. Harley, Actor
• George Mesaros, Director, Actor

Languages:

English

Length:

700 ft

Format:

16mm

Colour:

Kodachrome

Sound Notes:

Silent

Sound:

With music on disc and narrative.

Awards/Recognition:

ACL Ten Best 1949

Description:

"By a facile blending of warm hearted humor and a keen perception of human interest values, George Mesaros has created a film study of a famous beach in New York's metropolitan area that is replete with interest, information and entertainment. His technical skill and knowledge of what makes a motion picture move prevent this from being the dull collection of random shots all too frequently characteristic of this genre subject. Employing himself as a frenzied and frustrated shutterbug and a filming friend as plain Joe Doakes at the beach with his wife, a lunch and box camera, Mr. Mesaros proceeds to examine with interest and obvious affection the thousand and one attractions of the Long Island resort. An excellent musical score and a brief commentary help to integrate the compact 700 feet of the film's lively length." Movie Makers, Dec. 1949, 454.

Resources:

Discussed by Mesaros and Harley in "Surf, Sand and Sunshine" (Movie Makers, July 1950, 256-257, 268-269). The article offers tips for filming at the beach, and describes Jones Beach's production. Film stills are shown.

The film won first award of $75.00 in a Metropolitan Motion Picture Club members' film contest in 1949 (Movie Makers, Jan. 1950, 36).

Locations:

• Long Island, N.Y. (Filming)

Subjects:

• Nature
•      Geography
•           Beaches
• North America
•      United States
•           New York (State)

Genre:

• Travelogue

Form:

• Short

Screenings:

• Screened by the Metropolitan Motion Picture Club in 1950: New York City, N.Y.
• Screened by the 8-16 Home Movie Makers of Kansas City in 1950: Kansas City, MO
• Screened by the Vailsburg Cine Club in 1950: Newark, N.J.
• Screened by the Rockford Movie Makers in 1951: Rockford, IL
• Screened by the Amateur Movie Society of Milwaukee in 1951: Milwaukee, WI
• Screened by the Omaha Movie Club in 1952: Omaha, NE
• Screened by the Richmond Movie Camera Club in 1953: Richmond, CA

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