Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
Pond Life
All looks peaceful on the surface of this pond - but the depths below contain some fearsome creatures - though you need a microscope to see them
From the collection of:
Overview
This unusual and fascinating amateur film from the 1930s features microscopic images of a village pond's tiniest inhabitants - using techniques which, while familiar today, are remarkable for the time. In this hidden world we see planiarian worms and daphnia, a common water-flea, which is food for creatures like the hungry mayfly larva which follows. Last of all is the remarkable hydra, waving its sinister stinging tentacles about, waiting for that unwary passer-by.
Frank Perrin Barnitt was a solicitor in Tunbridge Wells with a keen interest in film and photography. With the help of Mr Newbury's microscope, Barnitt was able to capture some remarkable images of an hitherto unseen world - as this film reveals. The degree of sophistication and expertise, as shown by the results seen here, are all the more impressive given that he was simply pursuing his hobby. Another of Barnitt's films called 'At the Zoo - London', was donated to the Library of the Zoological Society in London.
Related
Watch for free
Wisdom of the Wild Wisdom of the Wild
Documentary 1940 12 mins
Fun mixture of natural history and wartime public information.
Watch for free
Dog Years Dog Years
Comedy 2004 4 mins
Sweet and funny short about a potty-mouthed dog who loves his owner
Watch for free
Beetle Racing Beetle Racing
Non-Fiction 1959 3 mins
Six legged competitors take to the starting blocks as a Midlands pub brings the sport of beetle racing to the world.
Watch for free
Alligator on Lizard Alligator on Lizard
News 1971 5 mins Location: St Keverne
Daisy the pet alligator living on the Lizard in Cornwall
Rent for £1.00
Anoop and the Elephant Anoop and the Elephant
Children's 1972 52 mins Director: David Eady
Fun-packed comedy for kids, in which a boy befriends a baby elephant – then teams up with his friends to stop it being sold
Watch for free
Open Your Eyes Open Your Eyes
Amateur film 1967 14 mins Location: Thompson Common
Should you look hard enough, you’ll be amazed at the antics that creatures get up to, says Dorothy Maxey, amateur filmmaker and naturalist.
Watch for free
Local Trader's Gazette Local Trader's Gazette
Advert 1930 9 mins Silent Location: East Sussex
This amazing discovery shows how cinema advertising used to look in Bygone Britain - a truly nostalgic gem of a film for lovers of Britain's past
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
Last Chord: The Life Story of a Merchant Seaman Last Chord: The Life Story of a Merchant Seaman
Amateur film 1947 12 mins Location: Kent
There's high drama in this short film from Sonny Hanson and R P Cue - which features a maritime tragedy and men of the Dungeness lifeboat service
Watch for free
Family Holidays Family Holidays
Amateur film 1935 13 mins Silent Location: Kent
Three summer holidays feature in Ernest Freelove's film - with beach frolics, miniature trains and Grandma's 1930s style mobility scooter
Watch for free
Ramsgate to Richmond Ramsgate to Richmond
Amateur film 1967 12 mins Silent Location: Ramsgate
Join the jolly crew aboard this cabin cruiser as it journeys from Ramsgate to Richmond in John Clague's fascinating maritime epic
Watch for free
Filmic Review: no. 1 Filmic Review: no. 1
Amateur film 1934 14 mins Silent Location: London
A Barnes Brothers spectacular which takes in London's pageants, Margate's crowds, Birchington's carnival and Land's End's rocky coastline
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.