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Pioneers of Personal Film
At the dawn of the cinema age, these trailblazing early adopters brought filmmaking technology into the home.
Home moviemaking is older than the first cinemas: we've been filming ourselves for well over a hundred years. The birth of the cinematograph in 1895 inspired a plethora of inventions pitched at the domestic market: Kinoras, Kammatographs, Pictorialographs, Birtacs and Biokams - all cameras designed for amateurs and enthusiasts to film and project in the home. This collection celebrates the earliest home movies preserved in Britain, and bears witness to the dawn of the amateur's long-standing fascination with family, travel and community. "The object in introducing this apparatus is to endeavour to popularize this extremely fascinating branch of photography.... [I have] always looked forward to the time when animated photography would be within the reach of every one" - filmmaker/inventor Birt Acres, on his Birtac camera, 1898.
Local Scenes and Family PicturesLocal Scenes and Family Pictures
Amateur film192714 minsSilent
Grandma and Grandad also join in the fun of this home movie - with beaches, swings & roundabouts and a medieval pageant led by Christopher Robin
Midsummer Madness - An Idiotic IdyllMidsummer Madness - An Idiotic Idyll
Amateur film19332 minsSilent
Four bright young things enact a midsummer's love tryst among the daisies in this short, well-crafted amateur fiction film.
Psyche's WeddingPsyche's Wedding
Non-Fiction192010 minsSilent Location: Devon
Bright young things thereto plight troth in a society wedding.
The Witch's FiddleThe Witch's Fiddle
Amateur film19247 minsSilent
Gotta dance! A bewitched violin gets everyone's feet tapping.
Marjorie Glasspool Films Her Family in AltonMarjorie Glasspool Films Her Family in Alton
Amateur film19308 minsSilent Location: Hampshire
Marjorie Glasspool's home movie captures a variety of events and occasions experienced by a Hampshire family
The Scarlet WomanThe Scarlet Woman
Home movie192444 minsSilent Location: Hampstead Heath
Catholic fantasy starring Elsa Lanchester and Evelyn Waugh in an Andy Warhol fright wig.
Flying a KiteFlying a Kite
Home movie19031 minsSilent Location: Streatham
In the year the Wright Brothers made their first flight, an Edwardian family film themselves taking to the skies… sort of.
Mermaids at Play at Bognor (Passmore Family Film)Mermaids at Play at Bognor (Passmore Family Film)
Home movie19031 minsSilent Location: Bognor Regis
Breathtakingly adorable home movie of an Edwardian seaside holiday on Bognor Regis beach.
Children's Party, Playing with BallChildren's Party, Playing with Ball
Home movie19021 minsSilent
What would a party be without balloons? The delight of these Edwardian children resonates across the years.
Girls Looking at Film and GigglingGirls Looking at Film and Giggling
Home movie19021 minsSilent
One of the earliest amateur film portraits, and certainly one of the most charming.
Passmore Family Film No. 5Passmore Family Film No. 5
Home movie19020 minsSilent
Edwardian children play a quick game of oranges and lemons for the camera in this early home movie.
Playing on Beach (Passmore Family Film)Playing on Beach (Passmore Family Film)
Home movie19031 minsSilent Location: Bognor Regis
Utterly gorgeous Edwardian home movie of a family's day out with bucket and spade on Bognor Regis beach.
Joan's Birthday PartyJoan's Birthday Party
Non-Fiction19293 minsSilent Location: Poole Harbour
It's party time in Bournemouth in the pioneering decade that set the standard for change
Joce and Gill at HomeJoce and Gill at Home
Amateur film193628 minsSilent
Joseph Emberton's marvellous film captures the early years of daughters Jocelyn and Gill - with birthdays, Christmas and a trip to Blackpool
Early film making at Welsh campEarly film making at Welsh camp
Amateur film19297 minsSilent Location: Llanymawddwy
Men on holiday from work at a Staffordshire firm - and on leave from home – enjoy themselves camping at Penygeulan farm, Llanymawddwy.
1934 Spirits from the Vasty Deep1934 Spirits from the Vasty Deep
Amateur film193414 minsSilent Location: Aberystwyth
A new baby holidays with London-based lawyer Goronwy Moelwyn Hughes, his wife and sons, and Lloyd Georges David and Megan discuss a new deal.
Royal Silver Jubilee 1935 - CardiffRoyal Silver Jubilee 1935 - Cardiff
Home movie193515 minsSilent Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
Yards of bunting have been put up in Cardiff to celebrate King George V’s 25 years on the throne and the Wade home in Park Place has its share.
They Forgot to Read the DirectionsThey Forgot to Read the Directions
Home movie192420 minsSilent Location: Cherkley Court
The 20s elite let their guard down... Amateur antics from media baron Lord Beaverbrook and friends, including HG Wells and Rebecca West.
Crossing the Great SagradaCrossing the Great Sagrada
Parody192410 minsSilent
A silent satire with hints of Monty Python.
Aberaeron - Alban SquareAberaeron - Alban Square
Home movie192913 minsSilent Location: Aberaeron
Aberaeron’s pharmacist, with ready access to film, takes a camera out with his family and records them in town, on the beach and by the river.
Pinner - 1926 - Osborne Personal FilmPinner - 1926 - Osborne Personal Film
Amateur film192613 minsSilent Location: Pinner
Evocative film capturing the suburb of Pinner succumbing to modernity, as we watch roads being constructed and the countryside retreating.
Harrow Events - C.1927 - Osborne Personal FilmHarrow Events - C.1927 - Osborne Personal Film
Amateur film192711 minsSilent Location: Harrow
Watford, Harrow and Pinner let down their hair in a 1920s smorgasbord of funfairs, fire displays and Tudor pageantry.
Minehead - 1932 - Osborne Personal FilmMinehead - 1932 - Osborne Personal Film
Amateur film193245 minsSilent Location: Minehead
A Somerset holiday with prolific amateur cinematographers the Tigg family
Tenby Races 1931Tenby Races 1931
Amateur film193116 minsSilent Location: Castell Gorfod
Highlights of the rural year: The Milkmaid of the Year event, the Prince of Wales at the Royal Welsh Show at Llanelli, horse racing at Tenby and a ploughing match at St Clears.
Seven O' Clock Regulars' Swimming Club Part 1 of 3Seven O' Clock Regulars' Swimming Club Part 1 of 3
Non-Fiction192911 minsSilent Location: Plymouth
Seven O'Clock Regular Swimmers' Club open the new season with a splash!
Barnstaple Fair in the 1920sBarnstaple Fair in the 1920s
Non-Fiction19265 minsSilent Location: Barnstaple
Join the crowds in Barnstaple for fairground attractions
Outing on the ThamesOuting on the Thames
Amateur film19339 minsSilent Location: Henley-on-Thames
An interwar outing on the River Thames with a reminder of the Great Western Railway's influence in Birmingham.
Our Holidays 1932Our Holidays 1932
Amateur film193210 minsSilent Location: Walton-On-The-Naze
With the luxury of a beach hut as their base, the Mann family from Southend took any opportunity to head up the coast to spend many happy days at Walton-on-the-Naze
Memoirs of our Holiday at Aberystwyth August 1931Memoirs of our Holiday at Aberystwyth August 1931
Amateur film193110 minsSilent Location: Aberystwyth
Waterfalls, rocks and St. Catherine's Fort, Tenby, are just a few of the wonderful highlights in this short film that explores the west Wales area