"An amateur film made by and starring the husband and wife duo, John & Evelyn Kibar. Title cards with dialogue are dispersed throughout the film." Chicago Film Archives
"Beach Holiday, an 8mm. story in Kodachrome, deserves high praise because of its smooth and interesting treatment of material that is directly within the reach of every movie maker. Made by Raymond O'Connell, this subject is a fine example of natural continuity, done in a simple, straightforward manner. The interior shots, which show the family getting up in the morning, their planning and preparation for a day at the beach and, at the end of the film, their return home, afford excellent examples of good exposure and technical work on 8mm. interior scenes. Many of the transitions are well planned, notably a clever shot which shows the final packing of the picnic hamper at home. Its cover is raised in the kitchen, so that the hamper fills the entire frame. The cover is then lowered, revealing a beach scene in the background. The outdoor work gives an excellent exposition of a day at the beach, complete with swimming, sports and boardwalk amusements." Movie Makers, Dec. 1937, 628.
After celebrating his fourth wedding anniversary, a man becomes obsessed with building a homemade weapon of mass destruction. The man's efforts reach a breakthrough after the couple celebrates their fifth anniversary.
"Various members of the Behrens family are seen walking out of the front door of a house. They are all wearing hats and coats and gather in groups on the driveway. There appears to be several generations of the family present. An elderly man and woman descend the front door steps, with a baby and two children. Concludes with everyone running around the driveway, larking about in front of the camera" (NWFA Online Database).
"Mr and Mrs Behrens are seen on a beach with two young children and a toddler. The three youngsters climb on top of a large pile of sand. The tide is out and the rest of the beach is deserted. Location Skerries" (NWFA Online Database).
"Various family scenes shot in the Behrens' garden at Holly Royde in Withington; May 1925. Includes a brief shot of a nanny playing with a baby and child on the lawn - two maids, carrying trays, are seen walking past in the background. Also features a family group - mum, dad, and two young children - exiting a garden gate and walking down a suburban street (The Beeches) in West Didsbury" (NWFA Online Database).
"Scenes of a Behrens family gathering. Various family members are filmed as they walk down a set of steps leading from the front door of a large house. They stand around talking to each other on the driveway. One of the men, holds hands with a young boy and they dance around in a circle" (NWFA Online Database).
"Members of the Behrens Family are seen enjoying a walking holiday in the Lake District. Includes various shots of the surrounding countryside - A couple of men are seen striding across a hillside towards the camera. They are wearing plus fours and carry walking sticks. Snow covers the ground they are walking on and one of the men attempts to throw a snowball at the camera. Concludes with a shot of three men, wearing overcoats and peaked caps, standing next to a parked car eating sandwiches" (NWFA Online Database).
"Scenes at Billinge Scar (near Blackburn), the Birtwistle family home, including some rather dark interior shots" (NWFA Online Database).
"The Birth of St. Mary's, by Robert F. Gowen. is a deeply moving and well nigh incredible accomplishment in amateur film production. Described as a chronicle in retrospect by the church that it pictures, the film moves bravely into the treacherous domain of costume drama and emerges triumphant. To recreate the gracious life of another day, to catch the feeling of its clothes and the flavor of its customs, to stage all of this against settings not only dramatically sound but full of beauty as well — such were but part of the problems of the producer. Perhaps greatest of all was the task of carrying on each step of this work with the willing, but often wilting, help of an entire community, the accomplishment, through infinite patience, of holding this group together for an entire year. Mr. Gowen has done it all superbly well. To this triumph of teamwork he has added sensitive direction, finished acting by his players and genuinely first rank color photography of largely interior setting. A double turntable musical score, carefully selected for historical accuracy, accompanies the production. The Birth of St. Mary's is a loving and lovely testimony, destined to increase steadily in stature as it becomes itself a part of the past." Movie Makers, Dec. 1937, 602-603.
Total Pages: 39
Amateur Cinema