Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
Fatal Shot
This gruesome tale from the Barnes Brothers is a warning to parents as a young child falls prey to a band of cliff dwelling murderous outlaws
Overview
From the collection of:
This Barnes Brothers film starts with a trio of young bandits, with false beards, boozing in a chalk cliff cave and sharpening knives. One of them emerges from the lair onto the beach where he sees a lone child whose mother has gone to fetch a book. After knocking the child out, he carries her back to the cave. On waking the child escapes but the gang chase after her firing their guns. The girl is shot and her body is put into a sack. The bandits dig a hole in the sand and bury their victim.
Filmed among the chalk cliffs and caves of Kingsgate Bay, Kent, twin brothers John and William Barnes' youthful and gruesome production was made when the boys were in their very early teens. Their sister, Garlick, played the unfortunate victim while friends of the twins played the murderous bandits.