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ASSOCIATED BRITISH-PATHE 9.5MM FILM CATALOGUE
Associated British-Pathe Ltd were one of the leading cinema film distributors in the UK by the late 1940's. The company began releasing package films of newreel items on 16mm and 8mm during this time. Most were 8 or 9 minutes like "Trooping the Colour"; plus a small range of animal films for the children and a series of items taken from cinema Pathe News or Pathe Pictorials marketed as Pathe Picettes.
In September 1951 they took the plunge and announced a range of short 4 minute subjects, again taken from cinema Pathe News or Pathe Pictorials. These titles were only available as silent (well mute) versions, and were marketed as 'Bantam Packs' in 8mm, 16mm and 9.5mm versions. The 9.5mm versions were printed for them by Pathescope using their usual economical triple print system on special 35mm film stock. As can be seen from the illustrations, the films were packed in attractive boxes with full details of the contents printed on the back.
By 1955 A.B.Pathe had pulled out of the 9.5mm printed film market. The master 35mm triple negatives were then used to re-issue most of the titles under the Pathescope banner (Pathescope just removed the 'Associated British-Pathe presents' logo from the start of each film). These 100ft 9.5mm films then had C.3**** Pathescope numbers. So if you find one of these titles with the A.B.Pathe intro then it's a genuine Associated British-Pathe product; without the A.B. Pathe intro it's a Pathescope product - although of course Pathescope printed all the copies anyway!
Incidentally a number of the Associated British-Pathe 16mm sound releases also ended up on 9.5mm sound - like "Trooping the Colour"; "The Last Journey" and "Tin Pan Alley". Because of an earlier tie-up between Pathescope and Pathe - it is said that Pathescope were able to source much of the Pathe News library for 9.5mm release without cost. Pathescope had released a monthly 300ft ('1 reel') 9.5mm news review (Pathé Gazette) up to the second war, then from 1936 also produced an annual News Review of 300ft ('1 reel') length. The last 9.5mm Pathescope 'Review of the Year' was for 1958 and it was released not only on 9.5mm silent, but also 8mm silent and 9.5mm optical sound.
@GLN '96 INTERNATIONAL 9.5 FILM CATALOGUE - NUMERIC ORDER LISTING 21/04/2003
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9.5mm Number 9.5mm Film Title Class. Issue-Delete Original Film Title Date
1 C(AB) FLYING ENTERPRISE (THE) Interest B/W Mute 52-55 :PATHE NEWS ??/??/51*GB
1 C(AB) 1 HAPPY EVENTS Interest B/W Mute 51-55 :PATHE NEWS ??/??/50 GB
1 C(AB) 2 ANIMALS BEAUTY PARLOUR Interest B/W Mute 51-55 :PATHE NEWS ??/??/50 GB
1 C(AB) 3 LION AND THE MOUSE (THE) Interest B/W Mute 52-55 :PATHE PICTORIAL 261(Mouse)12/09/49*GB
1 C(AB) 4 HAPPY GO LUCKY Interest B/W Mute 51-55 :PATHE NEWS ??/??/50 GB
1 C(AB) 5 HORSE SENSE AND NONSENSE Interest B/W Mute 51-55 :PATHE NEWS ??/??/50 GB
1 C(AB) 6 IT'S FUN BEING AN ANIMAL Interest B/W Mute 51-55 :PATHE NEWS ??/??/50 GB
1 C(AB) 7 CHAS CHASE AND THE HULA HULA GIRLS Interest B/W Mute 52-55 :PATHE NEWS Apl50 (Hula) ??/??/50 GB
1 C(AB) 8 ANIMAL ANTICS Interest B/W Mute 51-55 :PATHE NEWS ??/??/50 GB
1 C(AB) 9 SPEED CRAZY Interest B/W Mute 51-55 :PATHE NEWS ??/??/50 GB
1 C(AB) 10 DIZZY DAREDEVILS Interest B/W Mute 52-55 :PATHE NEWS ??/??/50*GB
1 C(AB) 11 OLD CROCKS AND CRAZY BIKES Interest B/W Mute 52-55 :PATHE NEWS ??/??/50 GB
1 C(AB) 12 STARS ON SKATES Interest B/W Mute 51-55 :PATHE NEWS ??/??/50 GB
1 C(AB) 13 SPORTING TYPES Interest B/W Mute 52-55 :PATHE NEWS ??/??/50 GB
1 C(AB) 14 EVE FIGURES IT OUT Interest B/W Mute 51-55 :PATHE NEWS ??/??/50*GB
1 C(AB) 15 FAST AND FURIOUS Interest B/W Mute 51-55 :PATHE NEWS ??/??/50 GB
1 C(AB) 16 FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW Interest B/W Mute 51-55 :PATHE NEWS Sept52 52/72 ??/09/52 GB
( 17 entries )
Notes: At least two titles didn't get re-released by Pathescope -
"Flying Enterprise" and "Happy Go Lucky".
Bantam Pack 7 second item (the Hula Hula tots) also appears
in the 9.5mm Pathescope silent 300ft release "Here and There"
It comes from Pathe News of April 1950 - Issue 50/31
Bantam Pack 16 although listed as "Farnborough Air Show"
was actually titled on the film itself as "Britain's Aircraft Parade".
It comes from Pathe News of September 1952 - Issue 52/72
"FLYING ENTERPRISE" Not re-released by Pathescope
(Title on film "THE SAGA OF THE FLYING ENTERPRISE")
- Exciting pictures of the foundering ship's 13 day fight with the sea, the survivors,
and Captain Kurt Carlsen & Ken Drancy who remained on board fixing a tow line.
1. "HAPPY EVENTS" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30702
- Penguins, spaniels and seals all combine to make this film a 'must' for the kiddies.
2. "ANIMALS BEAUTY PARLOUR" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30701
- Our friend the pampered poodle attends his own beauty parlour-hair wash, wave set,
manicure - the whole array of beauty make-up.
Rhino is not quite so lucky - he just gets the brush off - with oil of course.
3. "THE LION AND THE MOUSE" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30704
- Have you seen a Mouse Derby? You haven't? Then here's your chance to back the winner,
by seeing this interesting little film. In the same reel, see how the lion trainer
puts his fierce animals through their paces.
4. "HAPPY GO LUCKY" Planned C.30720 by Pathescope - but not re-released
- Hollywood star Vera Ellen rehearsing for her first UK movie "Happy Go Lovely"
5. "HORSE SENSE AND NONSENSE" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30705
- Compare the grace and beauty of the well trained riders and horses against the rugged,
untamed, bucking broncos of the wild west.
6. "IT'S FUN BEING AN ANIMAL" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30706
- The Boston Terriers leap into action for the canine Cup Final, a winger heads for the
goal, but a tough keeper saves the day. When dancer Jonathan Lucas dresses up in a
gorilla skin to visit a zoo, the animals wonder who is the biggest laugh.
7. "CHAS CHASE AND THE HULA HULA GIRLS" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30707
(Listed in catalogue as "CHAZ CHASE AND THE HULA HULA GIRLS" - but film title as above)
- No more food worries for Chas Chase. A good thick magazine sprinkled with pepper and
salt is enough-and for a sweet a good weekly paper. Hula Hula girls look glamorous but
have you seen a school where the very young Hawaiians learn their rhythm.
8. "ANIMAL ANTICS" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30708
- The Army learns to ride. During long and arduous training they try their skill on
wooden dummies. Their most exciting feat, on live horses, is when one rider fearlessly
takes his animal over three jumps and then through a blazing hoop.
Two brown bear cubs and cheeky London sparrows just can't live in the same cage.
The Bruin twins too absorbed in their chase, fail to notice a nearby pool - slip,
splash and they're up to their fur collars in the water.
9. "SPEED CRAZY" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30713
- In the USA they're not content with risking their necks by driving speed boats fast,
they make the race a steeple-chase. By adding ramps, they take off, fly through the
air until they hit the water again with a splash.
10. "DIZZY DAREDEVILS" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30719
- A small water tank - a perch 75 feet above the ground - a young man poised for a
high dive. In slow motion the camera catches his faultless movements as he swallow
dives downwards. A young man, bound hand and foot, is drawn up by his ankles over
a busy thoroughfare. His object - to release himself from his bonds. In a matter of
minutes he is free and is again lowered to the ground.
11. "OLD CROCKS AND CRAZY BIKES" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30711
- Not the old crocks of the London to Brighton run fame, but the Junior Crocks Race
for ancient motor bikes; there were some odd sights on the road that day.
This could only happen in Paris, a bicycle inventor's holiday, showing their
strange brain children, crazy machines with beer barrels for front wheels.
12. "STARS ON SKATES" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30718
- The spotlight swings down on to the ice and catches in its beam the graceful figure
of Adele Inge, she is not only a graceful skater but an acrobat as well.
Chorus girls change their dancing pumps for skates, and to the delight of the
audience dance the beautiful "Heart Dance".
In the finals of the Amateur Ice Skating Championships , Jeanette Altwegg wins
a handsome trophy presented to her by Mrs. Atlee.
13. "SPORTING TYPES" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30721
- Take one billiard table, two miniature goals and one egg - and the famous Arsenal
team are well away on a new sport. The kids of a London back-street try a new game
- roller hockey. Shortage of money does not deter them for they borrow their dad's
walking sticks and umbrellas and use their coats as goals. Basket-ball as only the
Harlem Globetrotters can play. Squirming, weaving, ducking, "selling dummies" to
their opponents, they soon have the ball in their rival's net.
14. "EVE FIGURES IT OUT" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30722
- This is a man's film - it's all about women. You are taken behind the scenes at
London's lavish spectacle revue "Latin Quarter" to see some of the prettiest chorus
girls practising their slimming exercises.
Jimmy Edwards visits a luxury swimming pool-as a bathing beauty judge. Who would be
the poor male who has to decide that one girl is more beautiful than all the others?
No wonder Jimmy says "You can take it from here!"
- 9.5mm film historian Maurice Trace mentions that the winner, presented with her sash
by radio star Joy Shelton, at this 1950 National Bathing Beauty Contest held at
Morecambe was Violet Pretty. She soon changed that and entered films as Anne Heywood.
15. "FAST AND FURIOUS" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30712
- On Daytona Beach, U.S.A. are held some of the most thrilling, spilling motor-cycle
races in the world. Jostling for position a rider swerves just a little too much
out into the bend and crashes.
In Italy they use the motor-cycle for a tight-rope act. A young rider drives his
machine across a long wire stretched taut, high over a harbour. He is joined by two
partners who perform a daring trapeze act while the rider does a hand-stand on his
motor cycle.
Italy again and this time bob-sleigh teams from all over the world meet to compete
in one of the fastest and most dangerous sports.
16. "FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW" Re-released by Pathescope as C.30723
(Title on film "BRITAIN'S AIRCRAFT PARADE")
- A visit to Farnborough, showing some of the new types of aircraft that are designed
for this modern age, where all the world's experts on aviation gather to look at
Britan's show case of flying. (from Pathe News: September 1952 - Issue 52/72)
(Descriptions are from the Pathescope 9.5mm film catalogue except those in italics.)
I have yet to find an Associated British-Pathe package film catalogue listing these 9.5mm releases - any information or extra titles for the 9.5mm list would be appreciated. Contact me - Grahame Newnham at presto @ pathefilm.freeserve.co.uk (no spaces in actual address)
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