At Wessex Film and Sound Archive you can see and hear history, from late Victorian times to the present day, through moving images and sound recordings. The Archive contains over 36,000 film and sound recordings relating to Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, including film and tapes of local TV and radio.
This film is part of Free
All in the Day's Work
This inventive comedy double-bill is more than your average home movie - with its tale of two young pranksters getting their just deserts
From the collection of:
Overview
Alistair Sawrey-Cookson's home movie is a comic morality tale for naughty children everywhere. A boy and a girl, who'd rather play, drive their tutor to distraction with pranks involving string and a pillow. The next film shows the boy and girl, joined by two other girls, splashing in a large basin. They play a hose on an older woman who gives each a smack. The kids decide to tamper with the family car. Their Mum can’t start it but says she was actually going to take them for a drive.
When he was eleven Alistair Sawrey-Cookson’s mother gave him a cine camera, which he used to film events and scenarios around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. While studying at the RADA in London, the Second World War broke out and Alistair went on to serve as an RNVR Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Always known to have an affinity with the sea and the boats and ships that sailed on it, Alistair, once the war was over, made films on a more professional basis, often with nautical themes. His best known film is ‘The Feathered Wheel’ which features paddle steamers. He also presented a BBC TV children’s programme called Travel Story, in 1953, which was all about a yacht race from Southampton to Cherbourg.
Related
Paper Boat Paper Boat
Drama 1949 22 mins Silent
Prize-winning amateur film about the fleeting affair between a housewife and a young man on a summer day.
Coming Shortly Coming Shortly
Amateur film 1954 4 mins Silent Location: High Wycombe
Silly silent film fun and thrills abound in this award-winning 1954 amateur short spoofing the world of Hollywood trailers.
Amelia and the Angel Amelia and the Angel
Amateur film 1958 26 mins Location: South Kensington
A young angel scours London for her wings in this tender short by the young Ken Russell.
Ladies Hoo Doo Ladies Hoo Doo
Amateur film 1965 19 mins Location: Harrow
Knitting comes in handy when making a film – a comical take on amateur filmmaking by the ladies of a local Pinner film club
Jocelyn in Wonderland Jocelyn in Wonderland
Amateur film 1961 13 mins Silent
Tired little Jocelyn, in her National Health specs, falls asleep in the garden and wakes up in Wonderland in this amateur re-telling of Lewis Carroll's classic.
Stephen the Magician Stephen the Magician
Home movie 1962 3 mins Silent Location: Castleford
A young magician impresses his sister by making a dog appear from under a bucket, and by demonstrating the magic of film itself.
Union Castle liner and seaside scenes Union Castle liner and seaside scenes
Amateur film 1930 6 mins Silent Location: Hampshire
All aboard the Warwick Castle as she departs from Southampton in this jolly film from Mr Light which also features beach goers playing leapfrog
Rural Reconditioning Rural Reconditioning
Documentary 1938 8 mins Silent Location: Lanark
Grand Designs of the 1930s: rural slums turned into country cottages with the help of government money.
Marjorie Glasspool Films Her Family in Alton Marjorie Glasspool Films Her Family in Alton
Amateur film 1930 8 mins Silent Location: Hampshire
Marjorie Glasspool's home movie captures a variety of events and occasions experienced by a Hampshire family
Southampton’s MP Films his Family and Friends Southampton’s MP Films his Family and Friends
Amateur film 1931 11 mins Silent Location: Hampshire
William Craven-Ellis records the antics of family and friends in his garden, on the beach and in and around Southampton
Taste for Honey Taste for Honey
Amateur film 1968 11 mins Location: Hampshire
Beryl Armstrong's father makes bee-keeping look so easy in this wonderful award-winning film - but he does know what he's doing!
Farewell to Steam Farewell to Steam
Amateur film 1966 3 mins Silent Location: Hampshire
A film maker's attempt to record the last steam-hauled passenger and freight trains running along the West of England mainline from Waterloo
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.