"Amateur filmmaker, cinema historian and railway engineer H.A.V. Bulleid employs a grim sense of humour to show the lengths to which a young man will go to make money. Out walking in the fields, a boy comes across a steep drop, and sitting on the clifftop, he hatches a foolproof money making scheme. Advertising for people to 'Come and see a 'death leap'', he charges 6d entry. As the crowd assembles on the clifftop, an unwitting patron is urged to move backwards, stumbling over the edge. Happy with the success of his scheme, the boy sits in the grass, clutching the money in his pocket" (EAFA Database).
A woman grows frustrated with her husband's commitment to his various hobbies, which seem to take precedence over their marriage.
"This is a film about a hobo who steals a pie from a windowsill." Library and Archives Canada.
" 'Oh, would some power the giftie gie us, to see ourselves as others see us.' In a sophisticated, fast moving satire, Fred Evans has struck at some of the blights of amateur movie making and screening. Turning his opening guns on tyros who ignore the instruction book which accompanies a new camera, Mr. Evans proceeds in a light, witty manner to poke cine fun at those movie makers who insist on learning the hard way. The picture continues on its farcical path, pausing now to watch invitations being telephoned for a screening of an as yet on-existent film and again to sympathize at the scene of frantic last minute editing. Home Movies has as its climax, of course, the fiasco of the screening, which should not be "tipped off" by a verbal preview. Compact and restrained, this movie offers meaningful as well as light entertainment." Movie Makers, Dec. 1946, 471.
"Hooked, an 8mm. comedy by the Grand Rapids Movie Makers, was intended as a straight drama of the trout streams. It has ended, however, as a delightful farce of a movie club trying desperately to complete such a picture — and is probably the better because of this mid production metamorphosis. For, although the first and original section of the picture is wholly charming and well photographed, it is in the latter section that the film picks up spirit, sparkle and definite dramatic power. It is in this part that the producers have conceived and executed a number of cinematic coups, climaxing them with a stunning multiple exposure sequence probably never before equalled or even approached in this medium. Walter Mills, ACL, L. Thorny, ACL, M. P. Gamber and Wendell Patton, of the Grand Rapids club, continue and enhance, with this film, their rightful reputation as most able advocates of 8mm." Movie Makers, Dec. 1934. 534.
"Amateur filmmaker and cinema historian H.A.V. Bulleid plays up slapstick and detective serial conventions in a comedy about a hapless private investigator for whom even the simplest tasks are fraught with mistakes and misunderstandings. Upon leaving his house one fine morning, Horatio Spink is asked to cash a cheque by his long-suffering wife. Heading straight to the bank, he collects the money, which he precedes to count on the street in full view of the local pickpocket. Unaware that he is now £15 lighter, Horatio walks home through the streets of Derby, bumping into the pickpocket outside his home. Startled, the boy runs away and Horatio gives chase. Given the slip by the pickpocket, who launches the cash over the houses, our hero ends up in a neighbour's backyard with a glamorous young sunbather. And having been spotted by a neighbour, Horatio seems destined for trouble. How will he get out of this one? What will his wife do? And will he ever get that money back?" (EAFA Database).
"British cine amateur Donald S. James aided by Maureen Cottle has produced a tightly-knit comedy depicting three methods of capturing a burglar. In each episode, the same burglar enters the same home, but in each case, different methods are taken by the householders to effect his capture. The low key lighting is very effective and good editing has resulted in very professional results on the screen. Narration and sound effects on the recorded track round out the superior treatment of this better than average amateur effort." American Cinematographer, May. 1951, 192.
"The Hungry Kook Goes Bazook is a zany title and zaniness continues throughout the film. This is a motion picture one would think could not be made. Even after you have seen it, you wonder whether this was a film with real live people in it or just another cartoon. Ed McWatters simply stole a cartoon and made it with real live people; that's how simple it is" PSA Journal, Oct. 1968, 48-49.
"Amateur filmmaker, cinema historian and railway engineer H.A.V. Bulleid presents the tale of Percival Pond, keen stamp collector and single man looking for marriage. Together with his dog Pliny, Percy is seeking his ideal woman. After his efforts to persuade a girl he is dating to dye her hair blonde fail miserably, even going so far as to post her a bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide, Percy meets Madeleine. Percy then continues his fetishistic quest with his new beau. At the Pond family home, Percy voyeuristically watches Madeleine pass a series of character tests, unwittingly for her. Percy scores her actions and traits on a character chart. After a death-defying drive in Madeleine's break-less car, which she handles coolly, and eating asparagus with the family, Madeleine passes the tests and is rewarded with an offer of marriage" (EAFA Database).
"On board the Cambridge Express, René Gade - 'Fresh from France' - travels to meet his cousin, a Cambridge don. To pass the journey, he gazes from the train window and puffs on his cigarette. Meanwhile, amidst the magnificent surrounds of King's College Cambridge, Gade's cousin - U. Wood, BA - is hard at work in the Old Lodge. Arriving at Cambridge, Gade disembarks from the train with a stumble. Later, with his car broken down on a country lane, Gade argues with the driver. A fiendish-looking passer-by offers to help, but steals the car. Nonplussed, Gade and the driver continue their journey on foot. Elsewhere, Archibald - the 'Archduke of Piffleheim' - is locked in an embrace with a young women, only to be startled by the appearance of Hecuba Brown, 'a pretty taking wench'. Succumbing to Brown's allure, he dumps his girl by pulling her leg (literally). Meanwhile, Gade and his driver spot a pair of young ladies walking down the lane. Following close behind, the pair make their move, grabbing a girl each and heading off in opposite directions" (EAFA Database).
Total Pages: 23
Amateur Cinema