" A short comedy featuring Nancy who, with an inept male assistant, runs a garage and an adjacent café." (EAFA Database)
"Take a man who wants to play golf and his wife who wishes to see the sights on a family vacation and you have the simple plot of Nantucket Turnabout. Richard Elms treats the idea with a freshness, however, that lifts it from the usual vacation film class. Through the mechanism of the wife's desire to visit historical places, some lovely views of Nantucket are logically inserted in the film, while the husband wearily tags after her as his prepayment for a chance to play golf. The eventual golf game ends with the wife, fresh after her sight seeing, winning easily, while the exhausted husband repeatedly drives to the rough, far into the final sunset." Movie Makers, Dec. 1945, 496.
"Believing that he has been betrayed by his wife, the slightly Milquetoast lead character of Near Miss tries all imaginable methods of committing suicide — but without success. In presenting this simple saga of frustration, Barry W. Dance exhibits effective camera viewpoints, uniform exposures, convincing acting and a progression from one scene into the next which is done with precision and pace. Above all he preserves good taste in his plot episodes — a gracious accomplishment all too often slurred over in the strain for comic effect. Near Miss is a pleasant and entertaining farce." Movie Makers, Dec. 1952, 340.
"A perfectly delightful holiday in personal filming, replete with humor, and imagination, is the comedy, Nite Life, produced by J. Kinney Moore, entirely in Kodachrome and, what is more, almost entirely in interior Kodachrome, by artificial light. Mr. Moore, in his work, refutes the contention, sometimes heard, that the amateur should be wary of film comedy. And, beside negotiating this pinnacle successfully, the producer has added an outstanding technical handling of Kodachrome, as well as a highly diverting and intelligent use of the various camera illusions it is possible to produce with the aid of modern 16mm. equipment. The obvious zest and pleasure with which the actor producer entered into the creation of this film add immeasurably to its value as a genuine document of personal filming achievement. Examples of carefully planned and executed trick photography follow one another in such rapid succession in the film that the spectator is left time only to gasp. However, these tricks are not executed simply for their own sake, but strictly in accordance with the furtherance of the plot. It must be said that, in the second part of the film, the author does yield slightly to the temptation of attenuating the action somewhat in order to spin out his bag of tricks. But the film as a whole is so delightful that any audience could easily forgive this small shortcoming." Movie Makers, Dec. 1936, 542.
"About two people who read an article on cancer being caused by smoking, and who decides to give it up. Neither does, but their evasions make many humorous situations. They finally catch each other sniping butts and call the whole thing off." PSA Journal, Nov. 1956, 45.
"An amateur film made by and starring the husband and wife duo, John & Evelyn Kibar. After Mrs. Kibar asks Mr. Kibar to throw away his old collectables, or “junk,” Mr. Kibar begins reflecting on past travels. Only later do we find out this travel sequence is actually just a dream." Chicago Film Archives
"The able talent of the Rockville Cinema Club again has produced an excellent photoplay. In Notoriety, the acting of this seasoned group of players sets a high standard for amateurs, and the work of the leading lady deserves special mention. Able direction and camera work help to carry along a story which has a few weak spots in its structure, for the film has a surprising amount of suspense, which is unusual in amateur dramatic ventures. There are several smooth comedy sequences that are extraordinarily well handled, and there are interior scenes of outstanding quality in lighting. The work of this group constitutes a good example to those who feel that good films are made only with elaborate equipment, for this picture tells its story in straightforward, workmanlike sequences filmed with the simplest of accessories." Movie Makers, Dec. 1937, 629-630.
"Amateur film in one continuous shot parodying a talk show, where the guests promoting an Institute of Amateur Cinematographers (IAC) gathering in the next year get carried away with their enthusiasm, much to the chagrin of the host." Chicago Film Archives
"An amateur film made by and starring the husband and wife duo, John & Evelyn Kibar. The film follows John, a cake decorator, as he struggles to keep up with the bakery’s cake orders. Title cards with dialogue are dispersed throughout the film." Chicago Film Archives
Total Pages: 23
Amateur Cinema