"The grace and beauty attained with advancing years is captured in this charming story, told with gentle wit and warm affection. Through the years, father has learned the wisdom of a slight deception to forestall a possible storm when he fails to follow orders, so is, instead, rewarded by his grateful wife. A memory-evoking addition to the family album of motion pictures" PSA Journal, Oct. 1963, 40.
"Victor E. Pye, using his family as the principal actors in a sincere and competent photoplay, brings us the flavor of family life in far away Australia. With a sure cinematic sense, he opens Inspiration with a moving dolly sequence which carries you into the house directly to the star of the film. With creditable economy of footage and compelling acting and directing, Mr. Pye tells a simple tale of a once crippled child returned to health through the inspiration of a famous figure skater — herself a former "polio" victim. There are also several scenes from which it becomes obvious that the movie maker has profited from viewing theatrical productions with his mind on his own filming. Suave and sensitive, Inspiration becomes moving and believable as the plot unfolds." Movie Makers, Dec. 1946, 488.
"Amateur filmmaker and cinema historian H.A.V. Bulleid presents a visual interpretation of the 'free verse' method employed by American poet Amy Lowell. With a title borrowed from a Lowell poem, and subtitled 'Here is a Dome of Many-Coloured Glasses' after her best known anthology, Bulleid brings the splendour and surreality of an English summer to life with beautiful colour cinematography. In the wind-swept sky, clouds pass quickly over the Boxhurst Estate, where pets lounge in the sun and family members take tea outdoors. Views of the garden in bloom, fruit ripening on vines and birds on the lawn is combined with brief vignettes of life on the estate. From the mundane to the surreal, a call for a glass of water ends with trick photography and stop-motion animation, and a young man shoots an unseen beast who quickly becomes pie filling" (EAFA Database).
"An Interlude in Happy Isles, made by Dr. Delmer J. Frazier, is one of those comparatively rare vacation pictures that tell their story in detail, but only in that detail which will mean something to an audience that did not have the good fortune to take the same trip. We have no road signs nor guide maps (except for cinematic effect), we don't even know where "Happy Isles" may be. All we know is that the Frazier family has a delightful time there; that they plan their trips with care; that they love the woods and the wild life; and, finally, that their appreciation of it all thoroughly entitles them to an interlude of pleasure. This film is an excellent technical job — the interiors at the beginning of the picture are beautifully lighted, and follow shots of the squirrels in the woods are quite amazing. However, it is the continuity of this picture, with its well planned incidents, that gives it Honorable Mention." Movie Makers, Dec. 1936, 549.
"Members of the Preston family on holiday in the Isle of Man. Various locations around the island are visited - including Douglas, Derby Castle and Onchan Head. At Groudle Glen, people are seen having a ride along a miniature railway and a zoo keeper is filmed throwing fish to a hungry sea lion in its concrete enclosure. Further scenes include close up shots of the Laxey Wheel in motion and a manx cat. Concludes with footage of the seafront at Ramsey." (NWFA Online Archive)
"Renowned Hungarian violinist Jelly D'Aranyi steals the scene, and brings a swirl of glamour to a cold Manchester day, as she entertains young Ruth Behrens in the family's garden. Jelly always stayed at Holly Royde, the Behrens' family home, when she performed with the Halle Orchestra. Look out for Ruth's sister Mary, confined to the house with a cold, and watching the fun through opera glasses." (BFI Player)
"Just another day with junior and the usual problems of getting a boy to get out of bed, wash, dress, and finally eat his breakfast as he must get along to school. An opportunity for some of us to relive those long-ago days" PSA Journal, Nov. 1960, 42.
"Excellent handling of camera and lights. A nice story telling family film starring Maxine (who has appeared in several other prize winning films) and her new baby." PSA Journal, Dec. 1955, 37.
"Members of the Preston Family on holiday in the Lake District. The film includes various landscape shots of Lake Windermere and the boating activities that take place around the pier and lakeside. Concludes with footage of farm workers stacking hay on to a horse-drawn cart; farm animals grazing in the fields and a man and woman playing with some puppies in a garden." (NWFA Online Database)
Total Pages: 15
Amateur Cinema