THE BODIES BENEATH: Weird, Wonderful Short Films From Before The 1960s
18:30 Sat 18 Jan 2020
A time capsule of the strange and forgotten moving image work of yesteryear.
Four particular and peculiar short films span the eccentric niches of the early 20th Century. From pioneer Mary Field’s juxtaposition of human relationships with fungi, to notorious Soho bon vivant Dan Farson pontificating on the recent legalisation of witchcraft. With on-screen cameos from ‘Father of Wicca’ Gerald Gardner and close friend to Aleister Crowley, Louis Wilkinson.
Introduced by William Fowler and Vic Pratt (authors, The Bodies Beneath: The Flipside of British Film and Television). Guest programmed by William Fowler and Vic Pratt. 80’
With thanks to the BFI National TV Archive.
Regent Street Cinema
W1B 2UW
Access
Please find all access information here, or drop a line to Helen MacKenzie at access@shortfilms.org.uk for more information or special requests.
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THE MYSTERY OF MARRAIGE
Mary Field 32 mins (UK, 1932)
Pioneering female director Field juxtaposes human relationships with the mating of animals and the spread of mould in this extra-curricular educational film. -
THE STRANGER LEFT NO CARD
Wendy Toye 23 mins (UK, 1952)
Much admired by Sally Potter, Toye's strange short about an eccentric interloper won an award at Cannes and was later remade as an episode of Tales of the Unexpected. -
OUT OF STEP: WITCHCRAFT
Geoffrey Hughes 14 mins (UK, 1957)
Notorious Soho bon vivant Dan Farson discusses the recently-legalised religion of witchcraft, speaking with ‘Father of Wicca’ Gerald Gardner, anthropologist Margaret Murray, and friend of Aleister Crowley, Louis Wilkinson. -
SOOTY & SWEEP: WE DISPENSE WITH ACCURACY
Director unknown 12 mins (UK, 1957)
In this accidentally anarchic early adventure of TV’s famous bear, Sooty pauses from whacking his handler Harry on the head with a hammer to supply pep-pills to sad-eyed chum Sweep.