The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
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Sam's Night Out
Taking to the open road with cigarettes and gasoline for a cross-country rally in the dead of night.
From the collection of:
Overview
Sporty competitors with a passion for motoring race against the clock in the first St Andrews All Night Trial in the 50s, organised by the Newcastle and District Motor Club. On a 263 mile round trip, the headlights glare and gravel flies as cars and motorcycles speed down dirt tracks and dark night B roads through the Northumbrian backwoods. Drivers head for John Buchan country in the Scottish Borders for breakfast at dawn, stopping at lonely roadside checkpoints en route.
The commentator here was George Cummin, who also edited the film. He was a former 30s dance band musician and World War Two reserve firefighter with a wicked sense of fun that shines out in his wry delivery as roving reporter ‘Sam’. This film was one of many commissions he and colleagues at the Newcastle Amateur Cinematographers Association produced for St Andrews Motors (SAM) of Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne. Four cameramen were involved in capturing the event, the film one of several shot on cheap ex-government film stock once used in aircraft gun cameras during the war.
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