"Many forms of art originated in old Japan. Here is a demonstration of a unique and improbably one that began as entertainment for children. Origami, the art of paper folding, is charmingly portrayed and described in this very imaginative film. One of the Ten Best, it will be enjoyed in the 1963 Top of the Ten pack" PSA Journal, Oct. 1963, 40.
"Ossining in Wartime is a sincere cinematic record of civilian war activities which every community in the land would be pleased and proud to have. It was not an easy production to complete. Conceived only in the later years of our war effort, the majority of the picture's sequences had to be especially recreated for the ubiquitous camera of its producer, Robert F. Gowen. Newspaper headlines, posters, placards and an occasional subtitle maintain the film's episodic continuity from the earliest efforts of airplane spotters and air wardens to the final joyous ceremonies marking victory over Germany and Japan." Movie Makers, Dec. 1945, 496.
"The Other Americans was a winner of a special Judges' Award for the Best Public Service Film in the "C" Classification. It's a long film, 52½ minutes in all, but it is filled with what poverty really is. Ms Julian Krainin and Dewitt Sage of Forest Hills, N. Y. have created a film about the Negroes, the Puerto Ricans, the Indians, the Coal Miners, the Farmers and many others that are poor, poor, poor. The average American will be surprised at how poverty-stricken other Americans are. The film is a mind-opener and well deserves the special award that it received," PSA Journal, Mar. 1970, 43.
"EDWARD E. JACOBSEN, of 9 East 41st Street, New York City, won the fourth prize in the non-dramatic division for his short study of New York City, "Our Metropolis." Mr. Jacobsen also submitted a drama, "What Does It Matter?," which was given an honorable mention. His study of Manhattan was deemed of greater merit, presenting some fine photography and excellent choice of subject. Both films were in 16 millimeter width, Mr. Jacobsen using a Bell and Howell Filmo. Mr. Jacobsen, by the way, is an art director of an advertising agency." Photoplay, Nov. 1929, 86
"Emma L. Seely's patience, good judgment and technical skills have made Out of Door Life in Ohio an amateur accomplishment of major importance. Her interest in her subject illuminates this well authenticated and minutely documented study of the bird life, in particular, and flora and fauna generally in her native state. Mrs. Seely's sure and expert grasp of cinematographic problems in nature filming made the successful recording of her beloved subjects possible. Finally, her able organization of the resulting footage made for a presentation at once impressive, informative and entertaining." Movie Makers, Dec. 1951, 410.
"Paradise Honolulu: Nobuo Miyaoka, using a Cine Special camera and Kodachrome film, has documented contemporary life in Honolulu as have perhaps few cine cameraists in recent years. The picture is essentially newsreel in style and depends upon titles to convey that which is not clear in the pictorial action. But interest is sustained in the careful selection of subject matter and the manner in which it has been photographed. A highlight is the fine night photography in color of Honolulu's annual lantern parade." American Cinematographer, May. 1951, 190.
"Parks of Paradise was originally intended as a 2000 foot pictorial travelog that would cover every national park and monument in the United States, but travel conditions enforced a limitation, so Norris Smitley has confined the scope to include only the national parks of the Southwest, permitting a more detailed presentation of the material used. Many unusual scenes of popular subjects are shown in the picture, which is further distinguished by beautiful color and meticulous cinematography." Movie Makers, Dec. 1943, 478.
"A short amateur film that show “how to stop a war without trying anything much.” Footage of protesters and activists advocating against the war in Vietnam are intercut with altered images of war." via Chicago Film Archives
"Hippies, peace-niks, students, beautiful girls, civil righters, old ladies and more, protest the war. Who dares to say that they don't influence the mainstream? Beautiful color and exciting montage capture the feeling and motion of the march on the United Nations" via the Film-Makers' Cooperative.
Total Pages: 23
Amateur Cinema