The South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA) is the regional film archive for the South West of England. Established in 1993, SWFTA's core collection comprises of the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and TSW (Television South West). The archive also cares for a significant number of donated film collections, both amateur and professional, dating back to the early 1900s.
This film is part of Free
Parsons' Pets
A plethora of pets and their owners, the Parsons
From the collection of:
Overview
In the 1930s keeping pets for pleasure would have been the preserve of the wealthy. This charming compilation shows the Parsons’ pouches, pigeon, parrot, peacock, pony, magpie and ducks. A servant in a French maid uniform holds the cat while Eileen in her jodhpurs plays with the dogs on the lawn. Pat tries to ride the pet dog like a pony but is unceremoniously unseated.
Different dogs and puppies appear, a wire fox terrier, a Labrador retriever, a wire-haired Jack Russell, two Pekingese and a harlequin Great Dane who plays with his master and is slow-mowed by the film-taker! A pet magpie pecks at the beads of its owner from her shoulder and then plays with the pet dog. Corvids, like crows or magpies are intelligent and easy to train. Today according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, all wild birds, their nests and their eggs are protected by law.
Related
Wisdom of the Wild Wisdom of the Wild
Documentary 1940 12 mins
Fun mixture of natural history and wartime public information.
Dog Years Dog Years
Comedy 2004 4 mins
Sweet and funny short about a potty-mouthed dog who loves his owner
Beetle Racing Beetle Racing
News 1959 3 mins
Six legged competitors take to the starting blocks as a Midlands pub brings the sport of beetle racing to the world.
Alligator on Lizard Alligator on Lizard
Current affairs 1971 5 mins Location: St Keverne
Daisy the pet alligator living on the Lizard in Cornwall
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
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.
Camping Holiday at Sennen Camping Holiday at Sennen
Home movie 1968 1 mins Silent Location: Sennen
Steady now as handheld captures camping holiday
Coastal Camping in Cornwall Coastal Camping in Cornwall
Home movie 1971 3 mins Silent Location: Sennen
Home movie maker films family in Cornish field
Beach Holiday at Sennen Cove Beach Holiday at Sennen Cove
Home movie 1930 9 mins Silent Location: Sennen
Holidays are close to home for the Parsons' family.
Holiday at Sennen Cove Holiday at Sennen Cove
Amateur film 1955 3 mins Silent Location: Sennen
Family enjoys the beach and a lunchtime pasty
Eileen and her show horse Eileen and her show horse
Amateur film 1930 3 mins Silent Location: Sennen
Eileen and her show horse take to the ring as sidesaddle falls out of favour
Three Dogs in a Boat Three Dogs in a Boat
Amateur film 1930 2 mins Silent Location: Sennen
Sink or swim as Rub and his chums are set adrift
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Luke Bean of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Samantha Arnold of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.
Horace Ové on Pressure Horace Ové on Pressure
Inside Film 2005 36 mins
The acclaimed director discusses his landmark film in this interview from 2005.
Baltimore - Exclusive Q&A Baltimore - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 28 mins
Directors Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor dig deep into their thrilling biopic Baltimore, in discussion with Nadia M Oliva.
Pressure star Herbert Norville on Horace Ové's masterpiece, the first full-length Black British film Pressure star Herbert Norville on Horace Ové's masterpiece, the first full-length Black British film
Inside Film 2023 17 mins
Actor Herbert Norville discusses working with the pioneering filmmaker on his groundbreaking 1975 drama, Pressure.
Horace Ové: Reflecting the People – A Career Retrospective Horace Ové: Reflecting the People – A Career Retrospective
Inside Film 2023 77 mins
An impassioned discussion on the life, work and legacy of the eminent filmmaker Horace Ové, chaired by Samira Ahmed.