"In Grand Adventure Louise Fetzner presents a lively record of a daring run through the wild rapids of the Colorado River, as it courses the Grand Canyon from Lee's Ferry to Lake Mead. While thrilling scenes of the intrepid boats and boatmen provide the film's drama, Mrs. Fetzner has not overlooked human interest sequences on the small daily activities of these hardy adventurers. Generally good in photography and editing, the film falls off in pace somewhat in its latter portions. And perhaps the frequent inserts of a title-map of the Colorado are more hindrance than help in what is essentially an action picture." Movie Makers, Dec. 1952, 340.
"Amateur stage play directed by Roger Clapp and starring Dorothy Stebbins." Northeast Historic Film.
"Opening with a superb trick title in Kodachrome, Guatemalan Rainbow, by the late Ripley W. Bugbee and Robert W. Crowther, carries the audience on an ocean voyage from New York City to the mountain villages of Guatemala, where Mayan mysteries are still celebrated and where the world is a riot of indescribable color. No sequences of the leisure and pleasure of shipboard life have excelled those in this picture. Dexterously, the ritual of afternoon tea was captured with the same finish as if the scenes had been directed in a studio. Active sports and lazy afternoons are recalled in the picture with idyllic beauty. After several minutes of rather less interesting and distinguished footage, the production reaches another high in the presentation of the descendants of the Mayans, whose markets, customs and religious observances are dramatically and expertly chronicled. The whole is accompanied by a satisfactory musical setting." Movie Makers, Dec. 1938, 619.
"To the production of Hail, British Columbia!, Leo J. Heffernan brought the filming talent and the fertile imagination that have marked his previous pictures. But, in this film, he has surpassed himself. He has produced a travelog, a scenic film or a record of British Columbia that covers all the diverse high lights of that province, but which still has unity. He has made a movie that is technically superior to the best theatrical travelogs, and certainly more entertaining. Mr. Heffernan has two great gifts — the capacity to improvise sequences during his travels and the ability to invent amusing and apparently natural episodes that fit the theme of his picture. This latter gift is a dual one, for it includes the ability to direct actors — people whom Mr. Heffernan meets here and there and persuades to "take a part" in his movie. The continuity of Hail, British Columbia! is ingenious and suavely followed. A girl gets off a Canadian train at a way station, where she finds a "Mountie." To him, she puts the problem, "What should I see in British Columbia?" The Mountie is somewhat taken aback, but he gradually recalls things to tell a tourist, and the picture unfolds his story. Heffernan like, there is a surprise twist at the end, which we shall not spoil by telling. Discussion of Hail, British Columbia! would be incomplete without at least a mention of the magnificent logging sequence, the clever camera work in presenting a story of a bicycle ride, the beautiful scenic shots and Canada's blondes! This picture has everything!" Movie Makers, Dec. 1941, 541.
"An amateur film made by and starring the husband and wife duo, John & Evelyn Kibar. The film documents the couples’ struggles to make and complete a travelogue film of their travels to Colorado. Title cards with dialogue are dispersed throughout the film." Chicago Film Archives
"Amateur production. A man, Dent Harrison, falls asleep and dreams that the R-100 sails for North America from its base in England. Various long shots of the airship under way. After the mooring procedure is completed, S/L R.S. Booth, S/L E.L. Johnson, Capt. G.F. Meager and other members of the crew meet with the welcoming party led by Minister of National Defence, J.L. Ralston. G/C Stedman, G.J. Desbarats, Maj. Gen. McNaughton and officers of the U.S. Navy are also in attendance. Several civilians are also in the party. Harrison's "clone" visits with his "brother". Cut back to the airship and shots of repairs to damage sustained in a thunder storm over Trois-Rivières. Visitors climb into the airship in a high wind. The R-100 is shown leaving on its Canadian flight. View of the shadow of the ship on the ground and several shots from various distances, notably from Windrift, the summer home of the Harrisons at Lakeside, Québec. Aerials of Niagara Falls, Welland Canal, Toronto, a lake steamer, Kingston, Queen's University, Kingston Penitentiary, the Thousand Islands, with cuts inside the airship's gondola, with crew men silhouetted against bright windows. More aerial shots of Cornwall, the shadow of the R-100 on Montreal, Côte-St-Luc and Verdun. Various ground to air long shots and closer views of the R-100 in flight, of the airship moored to its mast at St-Hubert air base. Sequences on Dent Harrison talking to his "clone" as he edits his footage, projects it into the lens of the camera. The two have lunch and the clone departs. Shots of the R-100 leaving as seen fromn directly underneath. Cut back to Harrison waking up from his dream." (LAC description)
"In From the Sea, produced by Fenno Jacobs for Todd Shipyards Corporation, establishes a precedent this year, for it is the first 16mm sound film, directly recorded in this medium, to be offered for Ten Best consideration in the Special Class. But the fact that this film carries its own directly recorded sound is only one of its many unusual qualities. It tells an interesting and dramatic story of the manifold activities that make up a working day in a great shipyard, where the monster ships are hauled from their native element without ceremony and attacked by a swarm of workers who specialize in every known form of ship repair. By handling this material with great technical facility and by fine editing tempo, excellent choice of camera viewpoint and a flair for cinematic effectiveness, Mr. Jacobs has succeeded in creating an industrial picture which has a high general interest. Among the many noteworthy sections of this film is the sequence which shows the workers' lunch hour. It is outstanding for its fine cutting and for the dramatic pause which creates a respite from the Titanic activities of the working hours. Interesting also is the sound accompaniment which is an integral part of the film and which, in addition to a spoken commentary and spot recording of shipyard sounds, includes well chosen excerpts from Stravinsky's suite, The Fire-Bird, to establish a modern mood." Movie Makers, Dec. 1937, 627.
"Prize-winning "filmic essay" of a trip along the Manchester Ship Canal from the Mersey to Manchester docks, taken from and following the vessel the Manchester Commerce. Shows the transporter and swing bridges, and the docks." (NWFA Online Archive)
"Film record of a trip to Funchal in November/ December 1936" (EAFA Database).
“Ruhi Su ve Rahmi Saltuk türküleri eşliğinde yoksulluk ve emek sömürüsünü ve mücadeleyi, direnişi farklı, ilginç bir kurgu ile anlatmış. 13 dakikalık 1969 yılı koşullarını düşünerek izlemek gerekiyor.” Sinematek.tv: http://sinematek.tv/kordugum-1969-2/ (15 Oct 2019).
“Accompanied by Ruhi Su and Rahmi Saltuk’s folk songs, the film tells the story of poverty, struggle, and resistance in a different way, with an interesting montage. This 13-minute-long film requires audiences to acknowledge the contexts of the year 1969 in viewing.” Sinematek.tv: http://sinematek.tv/kordugum-1969-2/ (15 Oct 2019).
Total Pages: 11
Amateur Cinema