The films included in this database are winners of amateur movie contests or works that have been identified as significant by archives and historians.
'Silent film shot by Miss Philippa Miller recording scenes of people and activities around the 1930s-style bay-fronted terraced houses and gardens in a small residential close at different seasons of the year. Miss Miller lived in Norwich so the film has provisionally been linked to Norwich, but identification of the location would be welcome. The film captures the relaxed and friendly relationship between the women, men and children filmed and Miss Miller behind the camera. From the film stock marks it appears that the film was shot between 1965 and 1967.
All but two of the scenes are filmed outdoors. Indoors we see four women sitting together looking at two boxed costume dolls and stroking a black poodle, and a brief scene of an elderly lady. The exterior scenes were filmed during winter, spring and summer and capture people's activities and domestic chores around their homes and gardens, their comings and goings, and various pet dogs. Scenes include: women clearing a path through snow; a row of ten sparrows on a ledge above a snowy roof; a man washing a car with cloth and bucket of water as laundry billows on a washing line; a woman dressed to go out in hat and coat carrying bags; children playing with a dog, a football, a toy pram and a toy tractor; a bride in white outfit with bouquet standing with a man, perhaps her father, and a woman chauffeur in peaked cap helping people into a car as they leave for a wedding; crocuses; another man washing a car; a boy on a tricycle; a knife grinder at work, operating his machine by treadle within a handcart with large wheels; a man mowing the lawn a man painting the front gate of a spring garden; a young man and woman; a man up a ladder cleaning windows; women with two children in matching coats; a house under construction with the timber frame of the upper storey and roof open; a woman hanging out sheets on a washing line; a woman shaded beneath a floral parasol standing in front of flowering rose bushes; a woman setting off on a bicycle; a woman holding a baby; children sitting on a lawn and playing with modelling clay; a young man; a woman at a window; a chaffinch; rose bushes; another lady dressed in hat and coat with bag going out; a woman playing ball with the black poodle; a man using an axe to chop at the roots in a hole around a tree stump' (EAFA).
"Perhaps the first experimental film made in British Columbia, this short uses found footage, painted and scratched emulsion, negative and reversed images, chaotic camera movements, and holes punched in the frame and filled with other images. Some portions are hand coloured." (British Columbia Archives.)
Amateur film documenting the wedding of S. Winston Childs and Cynthia (Cheney) Childs. The film shows guests gathered in formal attire; eventually the bride and groom exchange vows, share the wedding cake, and depart from the ceremony.
The title card reads: an amateur movie reel in kodachrome. Footage includes: S. Hurok Ballet Theater : "La fille mal gardée" (excerpts); Folk Dance Demonstrations by Ukrainians; Chinese Stage Dragon Dance for Red Cross; Eaton's Santa Claus Parade (no date); A Bit of the Toronto Skating Carnival; and An Abrupt Change to Ballet on a Stage in Toronto. Library and Archives Canada
"Mr. Taylor submitted an amusing scenic film in the 35 millimeter division, showing the varied and bizarre architecture of Hollywood. An honorable mention was awarded this film. This contest contribution was made last Summer and Fall during Mr. Taylor's spare time. He used a small automatic camera, equipped with ah F .3.5. lens, and an old Pathe of doubtful vintage" Photoplay, June 1928, 137.
"Bill Turnbull of Denver entered several 8mm subjects of the Chicago Fair. To our mind they were among the very best pictures of that event that had been submitted to us in the past two years. His pictures were well cut, nicely edited and deserving of honorable mention." American Cinematographer, Feb. 1936, 73.
"The seven reel industrial film made by Sherman A. MacGregory, ACL, of the construction of a sewage treatment plant was placed among the year's ten best because of its exact and thorough handling of a difficult subject. For more than five months Mr. MacGregory served as construction engineer and cameraman on a job that progressed slowly through many stages. But only by recording in detail all of these stages could he make the film serve its purpose efficiently as an office record — with the result that 4000 feet of 16mm. film were exposed in the process. In the final, carefully edited and titled edition, Mr. MacGregory has achieved and sustained definite interest, even for the layman, in a film subject that threatened monotony at every turn. Unusual and effective camera positions played a large part in this as a complement to the exact production and editing." Movie Makers, Dec. 1932, 560.
"Film features trees and leaves, ducks, water, a statue, 2 women wearing coats, a bridge and some house-like structures. The garden was filmed in the spring/summer and fall" Archives of Ontario.
"One of these other films, showing a moose hunt, received an honorable mention. Thus Mr. Covert was the only contestant to receive two honors in the contest. His films revealed, besides brilliant photography, an unusual scenic sense. His films were no mere series of disjointed shots. In each case Mr. Cover told a story—and an interesting one" Photoplay, June 1928, 67.
"The principal award of $500 in the 16 millimeter division was awarded to B. V. Covert...for his remarkable study of a quail hunt and a number of beautiful pointers in action. Mr. Covert's photography was superb in this film and in two other contest contributions submitted for the consideration of the judges...His films revealed, besides brilliant photography, an unusual scenic sense. His films were no mere series of disjointed shots. In each case, Mr. Covert told a story—and an interesting one" Photoplay, June 1928, 67.
Total Pages: 286
Amateur Cinema