St Kilda the first silent film recorded 1908

[Kelly d]

This was the first film to be shot on the Hebridean island of St. Kilda, and should not be confused with the later film from 1928 ('St. Kilda - Britain's Loneliest Isle'), which is more closely concerned with the population that would later be evacuated from the island forever. This earlier film was by the pioneering bird cinematographer, Oliver Pike, and focuses on the island's bird population, as well as the St. Kildans' remarkable methods of snaring sea birds for food and gathering eggs from the precarious cliff face. To achieve the spectacular shots of the bird colonies and birds in flight, Pike had to develop his climbing skills, with the aid of the locals, burdened as he was with a heavy film camera. (Bryony Dixon)

The 13th British Silent Film Festival takes place at Phoenix Square, Leicester 15th - 18th April 2010, where a host of rare and re-discovered films from the archive will be on show. For more information, visit http://www.britishsilents.co.uk/silent/

[Caledonian]

Re: St Kilda the first silent film recorded 1908

Nice piece of film Kelly d. “Bruttun’s hardy sons” as Para-Handy would say. Looks a bit harder than popping out to McDonald’s for a snack. Don’t know though?