"The story concerns a girl who, during her husband’s absence in the East, takes a lover. The husband returns home unexpectedly, and, in a heated scene, threatens the lover with an automatic. Unfortunately for him this expansive gesture is witnessed by a tramp. The tramp thinks he had better retreat. As he hurries from the scene he hears a shot ring out and returns to find that the lover has been killed. He reports to a policeman, with the result that the husband is arrested, tried, and condemned to death. Dramatic Climax - With feminine perversity the wife now realises that it is her husband who she really loves, and implores her sister’s fiancé, a member of the C.I.D., to save her husband, whom she believes innocent. He promises to do his best, and, on fuller investigation, finds a sodden letter near the spot where the murder was committed. On making enquiries he finds that a man has recently been lodging at the address given on the envelope, who had just returned from America, and had disappeared on the day of the murder. When finally arrested the man tells of a private vendetta with the lover and of his determination to be avenged. A witness to the quarrel, he shoots the erstwhile friend just after the quarrel with the husband. The final scenes lend themselves to a thrilling climax. The final shot portrays the face of the murderer as he discharges his gun point blank at the audience" (M.A.L.B. 1931: 6).
"endeavouring cinematically to depict the freedom of the open air as a contrast to the mechanised life of the city during the working week. The treatment in the hands of Mr. S. Sharples was a departure from the usual run of films, as there was exploitation only of natural media and no particular caste was featured. By rapid acceleration and accurate timing of sequences the effect of stimulation and movement was produced. This film was submitted to Mr. J. Grierson, of “Drifters” fame, and in a very candid criticism of it he wrote “… one of the most intelligent amateur films I have seen" (Anon 1931: 183).
"documentario cronistico"/documentary chronicle
"This charming amateur film begins with shots of grand Felixstowe houses. Men are racing model yachts of various sizes on the pond in front of an attentive crowd. The victors are presented with their winnings. The film progresses to Constable Country where on the idyllic river Stour a man boats near a family of swans. Two more men boat downstream. Atop a wooden bridge a few people take in the serenity of their surroundings. At Flatford Mill seven young women in deckchairs paint. Still shot of Willy Lott’s Cottage in Flatford follows. Back at Felixstowe more people race their model yachts. An amphibious plane is in the water. The pilot carefully climbs onto its wings. Girls in togas and garlands perform a dance routine. Behind them the 'grim reaper' walks scythe in hand, followed by two ladies dressed in mourning attire; one carrying a placard which reads “FELIXSTOWE IS SO SHOCKING". The fancy dress procession continues with the king and queen. Boys and men in the pond race through an assault course which includes passing through lifebuoys, inflating balloons and diving under netting. In the sea a speed boat propels between obstacles. Back in the pond men straddling a wooden pole attempt to unseat each other with sacks. Decorated floats pass through the town’s streets containing people in fancy dress. The film concludes with more model boating on the pond" (EAFA Database).
Total Pages: 299
Amateur Cinema