Hunted

From the collection of

Screen Archive South East at the University of Brighton collects, preserves, catalogues and provides public access to its collection of films and magic lantern slides. The collection charts the rise of screen culture in the region and the nation and captures many aspects of life, work and creativity in the South East from the late 19th century to the present day. It is available for research, screenings, creative re-use and commercial access.

Hunted

Screen Archive South East at the University of Brighton
Surrey
1959-01-01
Sound
6m

There are echoes of Fritz Lang in this short film about a shadowy figure following a child through woodland - but what is his true purpose?

This creepy film starts with newsagent posters telling of an escape from Broadmoor. We see a girl deliver newspapers to a house from which a small child emerges followed by a nanny pushing a pram. They both walk along quiet streets to a local park - followed by a sinister man. The nanny rests on a bench while the child chases her ball to an isolated spot. A shadow looms over her. Her scream alerts the nanny who finds the man on the ground revealing the Emperor moth he's just caught.

Amateur Auteurs

Ever dreamed of shooting your own movie? These pre-digital cine-enthusiasts did - with all the passion and devotion of the true auteur.

These low- (or no-) budget creations reach beyond simple point-and-shoot, back-garden efforts towards something more ambitious and skilful, revealing their authors' passion for film and their often astonishing ingenuity with limited resources. No desktop editing software or digital special effects for these amateur auteurs. The films include fiction and documentary, competition prizewinners and private labours of love. They may be the work of cine-clubbers or individual enthusiasts. But they all show a devotion to filmmaking that far transcends hobbyism. So look out for the delightful handmade intertitles, table-top special effects and library soundtracks which decorate many of the quirky stories, ultra-local documentaries and painstakingly composed home movies featured here.