Star Cabaret 1956

1956
Silent
8m

A lively collection of largely comic amateur films, followed by a glimpse at the sets of On the Beach and Ben-Hur.

A sprightly mixture of live action and model work makes up this compilation of largely comic amateur films made by the photographer Roderic Vickers and friends. These are followed by film shot by Vickers in Australia during production of Stanley Kramer's On the Beach, and then by some particularly fascinating footage he shot on the back lot of Cinecitta Studios in Rome. The latter was filmed during the production of Ben-Hur, with the vast set under construction and the chariot horses in training.

On the Beach was shot on location in Australia between January and March 1959 and starred Gregory Peck, Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins, all of whom can be seen in this home movie (Ava Gardener was the female lead but does not appear here). Ben-Hur was filmed at the Cinecitta studios in Rome between May 1958 and January 1959 and starred Charlton Heston, who can briefly be seen in this footage.

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.