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.

DIY Animation

Amateur animation auteurs bring their homegrown creations to life

The requirements for making an animated film are pretty low. With a camera that shoots in single frames and an idea in your back pocket, you're well on your way. This collection showcases an assortment of dining table Disneys, who combine homebrewed talent with the all-important dedication and patience required to bring a story to life one frame at a time. Not that this was necessarily a solitary pursuit. From the 1950s onwards networks of amateur animators like The Grasshopper Group collaborated on filmmaking and distribution, and animated shorts were often a highlight of the amateur filmmaking scene.