In the years between the Great Depression and the outbreak of the Second World War there was a boom in the hobby of amateur film-making, which became a popular middle-class pastime. The films make a fascinating contrast to the tumultuous events of the period which, by and large, were the exclusive domain of the newsreels, and adds up to a rich collection of images of everyday life caught on celluloid.

This is the story of those pioneering amateurs: their work; their secrets and motives; and how and why their hobby became for them an all-consuming obsession. Private Passions captures how film-makers recorded their everyday life, away from the social upheaval and political crises that filled the headlines.

The programme tells the story of Lucy Fairbank, a schoolmistress in West Yorkshire who became a prolific film-maker. In Cornwall we see examples of the work of Major Gill who was passionate about filming the dying industries of his county; and in complete contrast we look at the films of Claude Endicott who set about capturing on celluloid any and all technological innovations. Then there are the little gems of family life on film from Robert Parriss who was so obsessed with film-making his family often went without so that he could buy film. Parriss even went as far as knocking holes in the dining room wall to shine a projector through and ruined several pieces of furniture by attaching loudspeakers to them.

We examine how amateurs matured alongside professional filmmakers and turned their expertise to producing mini-dramas.

Content last updated: 07/01/2005

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