Hand in Glove

From the collection of

East Anglian Film Archive at the University of East Anglia

The East Anglian Film Archive, the UK's first regional film archive, offers a unique record of the East of England's social and cultural history. As part of the University of East Anglia, we continue to lead moving image heritage research and inspire audience participation through community projects and events. Our collections represent a broad range of amateur and professional creativity, from 1896 to the present day.

Hand in Glove

East Anglian Film Archive at the University of East Anglia
1976-01-01
Sound
9m

To carry on his important work the ego-maniacal scientist Dr Kelly must obtain another hand … a hand which begins to take on a life of its own.

Written and directed by, and starring the filmmaker himself, Jon Coley was just 17 years of age when he made this film, the first in a series of short fiction films taking inspiration from the classic Universal horror movies of the 1920s, and influenced by the work of fantasy animation pioneer Ray Harryhausen. These 'Other Realms' episodes are atmospheric stories of strange happenings - a self-financed project, created as a pilot series intended to be screened on TV.

Coley's interest in monsters and the movies was nurtured by his Grandmother who was a keen cinema-goer and Boris Karloff fan. The first full-length feature film Coley ever watched was with ‘Nana', it was the Lon Chaney version of ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame' (from 1923). Coley also had an early introduction to the work of Ray Harryhausen, when aged 3, he saw a TV excerpt from ‘The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms'. In fact, Coley eventually got to meet his hero, and the two became great friends, showcasing work to each other.

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.