"The first on the list, Rushes, 300 ft., 16mm., filmed by J. V. D. Bucher, is an unusual effort, for it presents a continuity theme woven about a single subject, the wild rice plants in a marsh. It well illustrates what distinctive subjects for amateur movie making are offered by scenes close at hand that are often ignored. It is a satisfyingly beautiful study of the rushes, telling the story of their resistance to the assaults of nature, climaxed with their defeat by fire. The plan offered a large number of exposure problems which were successfully handled. Of particular beauty are the scenes of the burning rushes, taken with a fast lens, and fog effects and closeups of the plants' plume like heads, taken with filters against cloudy skies. The continuity motif used is simple and yet unites the subject into a complete entity rather than a series of disjointed sequences which happened to be taken of the same subject." Movie Makers, Dec. 1930, 758.
"This is a record of a rural sports day held on Southwold Common on Whit Monday, 1928. (Identified on a still of a poster.)" (EAFA Database).
"On May 28th 1928, Whit Monday, Barrett filmed the races and prize giving of the “Rural Sports”, held on the common. These sports had flourished before the First World War, and this was an attempt to revive them. Although on the film everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, these Rural Sports were not held again. Barrett Jenkins was pleased with the results of his filming, and so continued" (Cleveland 2009, 139).
"Film about how to make films." Library and Archives Canada.
"Depicts a rum-running expedition from Victoria to "Rum Row" off the California coast with the mother ship M.V. Malahat. The tender M.V. Hickey is shown transferring cases of liquor to American vessels and avoiding US Navy cutters. At San Martin Island, Mexico, the Hickey puts in for repairs." (BC Archives)
NOTE: The original reversal film was lost in the 1990s after being sent out for video transfer in Vancouver. Only the BC Archives analog video transfer is extant.
"Home movie film record of the 1939 royal visit by King George VI, showing preparations on the streets of Vancouver and the vicinity of the Hotel Vancouver, a parade, and the royal motorcade" British Columbia Archives.
"What we have all wished a newsreel presentation of an important event could be has at last been brought to actuality by T. J. Courtney in his fine Kodachrome film Royal Visit — Halifax 1939. Let us hasten to add, also, that this film, besides being the apotheosis of the newsreel presents a carefully connected story of the events of the long anticipated day of the Royal visit in his city. Chiefly outstanding is the skillful and always appropriate use of closeups and atmosphere shots made with great care before, during and after the event and cut in with real skill to heighten the effect. But, most of all, the film is remarkable for its pace and sincere interpretation of public feeling; the early preparations for the Royal visit; the breathless expectation; the high enthusiasm at the time of Their Majesties' appearance, the promise of long remembrance at their departure — all these are clearly shown by Mr. Courtney's cinematic commentary. The complications that must have confronted him on this exciting day must be considered in our approval, too. He succeeded admirably in picturing the general excitement and enthusiasm, but at no time did his camera desert its steady support and accurate framing of the principal subject. The natural, close shots of the King and Queen are unsurpassed." Movie Makers, Dec. 1939, 632.
Amateur film footage of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Victoria, B.C. during the 1939 royal tour of Canada.
"Wilbur W. Krimpen's Rowdy Clam Bake is a sure source of delight for all lovers of food, drink or shuffleboard. It is a charmingly informal treatment of a clam bake through the successive stages of food preparation, cocktail time, shuffleboard (to whet appetites) and, ultimately, food consumption. In addition to its entertainment value, Rowdy Clam Bake rates high for its informative aspect, as it provides a step by step study of what constitutes a successful clam bake. The ingredients involved will not be listed here, lest the reader's credulity be strained. However, the film's parting shot, a closeup of an Alka-Seltzer container, is indicative of the epic dimensions of the feast." Movie Makers, Dec. 1948, 491-492.
Total Pages: 299
Amateur Cinema