IN
THE
FRAME

A film by Craig and Pete Austin

What started with the rescue of a single film bound for the refuse tip 50 years ago, and the certain loss of historically important social documentation, has grown to a collection of more than 4,000 reels of film and in excess of 100 projectors.

This is the story of one man’s passion for movie film and his life-long quest to collect and preserve amateur local cine film and associated equipment for posterity. Working alone, John Earl gradually involved other cine enthusiasts who started to meet at his Wellingborough home, where they showed some of the films they had taken themselves - along with a couple of purchased Pathe newsreels and comedies.

As the group gradually gathered momentum John, together with Rushden photographer, Arthur George, founded the Northants 9.5 Group. When other film gauges began to be added to their collection the name was changed to The Northamptonshire Film Archive and acquired Trust status shortly afterwards.

This documentary, by Trust members Craig and Pete Austin, has been produced around interviews with the late John Earl. It endeavours to capture the spirit that lead to the group’s formation and its longevity.
  
© 2017

Run time:
20 minutes
Colour / b&w

 

Copyright 2016 The Northamptonshire Archive Trust