The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Fishing Tale
Comedy catch of the day: cod-acting in a fishy tale with the Nouveau-Château cine club.
From the collection of:
Overview
A spot of bait and bravado breaks the ennui on the banks of a picturesque Northumbrian river, standing in for the (fictional) Damne D'Hotte district of Northern France. All ends well in this comic story of a fishing dispute that descends into fisticuffs, peppered with French stereotypes. It was created by a Newcastle & District Amateur Cinematographers Association 16mm film production team, based in Nouveau-Château, of course.
This film is part of a unique and eclectic collection, which dates back to the pioneering early decades of amateur cinematography. Back in 1927 James Cameron gathered together a small group of men and women interested in making moving pictures. They formed the Newcastle branch of the Amateur Cinematographers Association (ACA), one of only five in Britain at the time, and still operating in the city in 2018.
Related
Watch for free
Britain, Kingdom of the Seas Britain, Kingdom of the Seas
1981 29 mins Location: Devon
Conservationists stand guard as the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland keep a vigilant watch on the UK’s coastline
Watch for free
A Summer's Day A Summer's Day
Amateur film 1963 6 mins Silent Location: Northumberland
A skinny dip on the north east coast leads to romance and footsie on the beach.
Watch for free
The House with the Golden Windows The House with the Golden Windows
Amateur film 1946 7 mins Silent Location: Northumberland
There’s no place like home … a beautiful Kodachrome tale of a childhood quest.
Watch for free
The Puncture The Puncture
Comedy 1965 5 mins Location: Northumberland
Gender relations take a turn for the worse on a country road in the North East.
Watch for free
Howway the Lasses Howway the Lasses
Documentary 1977 1 mins Location: Northumberland
This jaunty hand-drawn animation charts the history of womens revolutionary road to freedom in the North East - from Stone Age sister to suffragette of the twentieth century.
Watch for free
Children's Outing to Northumberland 2 Children's Outing to Northumberland 2
Amateur film 1937 2 mins Silent Location: Northumberland
Jewish children enjoy the warm Northumbrian sunshine as the rise of Fascism in Europe threatens peacetime.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.