This film is part of Free
Flying a Kite
In the year the Wright Brothers made their first flight, an Edwardian family film themselves taking to the skies… sort of.
Overview
The Passmore family were pioneers of the home movie at a time when few had access to film equipment, so these surviving films are a real treasure trove. It's strange to think that when this was filmed, even the box kite itself was a relatively new invention, developed in 1893 by another pioneer in the pursuit of flight, Lawrence Hargrave. Probably filmed on Streatham Common near the Passmore home, it appears the enthusiasm of the children - Brian, Mavis and Margaret - was greater than the wind speed that day.
Related
Local Scenes and Family Pictures Local Scenes and Family Pictures
Amateur film 1927 14 mins Silent
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 Idyll Midsummer Madness - An Idiotic Idyll
Amateur film 1933 2 mins Silent
Four bright young things enact a midsummer's love tryst among the daisies in this short, well-crafted amateur fiction film.
Psyche's Wedding Psyche's Wedding
Home movie 1920 10 mins Silent Location: Devon
Bright young things thereto plight troth in a society wedding.
The Witch's Fiddle The Witch's Fiddle
Amateur film 1924 7 mins Silent
Gotta dance! A bewitched violin gets everyone's feet tapping.
Marjorie Glasspool Films Her Family in Alton Marjorie Glasspool Films Her Family in Alton
Amateur film 1930 8 mins Silent Location: Hampshire
Marjorie Glasspool's home movie captures a variety of events and occasions experienced by a Hampshire family
The Scarlet Woman The Scarlet Woman
Comedy 1924 44 mins Silent Location: Hampstead Heath
Catholic fantasy starring Elsa Lanchester and Evelyn Waugh in an Andy Warhol fright wig.
Jumping over Tennis Net Jumping over Tennis Net
Home movie 1903 1 mins Silent Location: Streatham
The grown-ups of the Passmore clan let out their inner children as they leap over a tennis net in this early home movie
Streatham Children's Pageant Streatham Children's Pageant
Non-Fiction 1916 1 mins Silent Location: Streatham
Time for Britannia to get off the bus - the Queen is coming to Streatham
Our Business Is Fun Our Business Is Fun
Documentary 1975 60 mins Location: Streatham
Meet Futuristic Fred, the celebrated fairground artist from Streatham.
Silver Blades Ice Skating Silver Blades Ice Skating
Promotional 1963 7 mins Location: Streatham
Streatham goes dancing on ice at the coolest place in town.
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.