Grahame N's Web Pages
NOVASCOPE
9.5MM FILM CATALOGUE
Novascope was set up in the UK around 1970 by two keen 9.5mm enthusiasts Pat Moules and the late Paul Van Someren. They managed to locate some of the original Pathéscope (UK) and SCI Pathé (France) 9.5mm film slitting, perforating and printing equipment and with the help of 9.5mm specialist dealer Larry Pearce they began producing 9.5mm black and white printed films as triple prints on the specially perforated 35mm positive stock from triple 9.5mm negatives produced by themselves from 16mm masters. They had to find unperforated 35mm printing stock, arrange processing and then print, perforate and slit every inch of the films they issued! Pat Moules says he spent many hours in the basement of his parents' house in a dim red light, just running the perforating machine - turning out thounsands of feet of the special 35mm positive printing stock - what dedication!
The Novascope company originally traded as "Novascope 9.5 Films" from 7 Colebrooke Avenue, London E.3, UK, later by April 1972 from 145 New Kings Road, London, S.W.6, but by Febuary 1973 had been formed into a limited company "Novascope Limited" trading from 14 Gowan Avenue, London, SW6 6RF, UK.
Some of the titles were produced from existing Pathescope triple negatives that Larry Pearce had rescued from materials scrapped when the Pathescope company had closed down in the UK. Other titles were new to 9.5mm and generally of very good quality. Unfortunately lowish sales and other events meant that these two entrepreneurs had to cease operations after three or four years, but leaving a new selection of genuine 9.5mm printed films for collectors to search out.
The 9.5mm Novascope film releases were announced in various news letters - the first dated February 1971 being just titled "Novascope" was a four page (folded quarto high grade glossy paper) catalogue. One reel (300ft) 9.5mm film releases were priced at 64/-, soon to be £3.20 with decimalisation of our UK currency. There was also a "No.1 Spring 1971 supplement" - just a single duplicated sheet included with the Feb 1971 catalogue. The second ("Novascope No.2") was similar and dated Summer/Autumn 1971. A third ("Novascope No.3") was dated Winter 1971/1972. In Spring 1972 there was just a "News from Novascope" detailing a move to new premises and the fitting out of a new laboratory. A photocopied A4 folded sheet dated February 1973 and headed "Novascope News" apologised for delays, but announced the release of two 9.5mm optical sound titles. Spring 1973 saw the issue of an eight page (two folded quarto sheets) catalogue titled "Novascope Review" with more film releases, an article on how Novascope films were made and a few 9.5mm dealer advertisements. "Novascope Review No.2" was dated 1974 and back to just 4 pages (one folded quarto sheet) - one reel (300ft) films had increased in price to £4.90 caused by the introduction of VAT and increased processing, filmstock and postage costs. There were fewer new releases because of delays whilst the printing equipment was improved. No further news sheets were produced and because of poor sales and work commitments no more 9.5mm films were released. Novascope had a stall at the Group 9.5 1975 Autumn Get-Together where the few remaining 9.5mm prints were sold off. Sadly the end of a valiant attempt to release new 9.5mm film prints - by this time most film collectors (and film makers) had turned to standard 8mm ......
Some time after, enthusiastic 9.5mm dealer Roy Salmons obtained the Novascope film equipment and produced more copies of existing titles. He had hoped to produce new titles including colour releases, but low sales and other problems overtook the project. Much of the equipment, some triple negatives etc. now languish in my garage, in various states of disrepair, probably never to be used again. (I had wild ideas to print up further 9.5mm triple prints, but by then print stock had become polyester, the local microfilm processing lab closed and much work was needed to refurbish the equipment, really for no purpose as even test sales of modern 9.5mm colour prints were very low!)
The two 9.5mm optical sound film releases were produced in 1973 from existing (very rare) 9.5mm optical sound films by contact printing a negative (picture & sound track), then contact printing the copies on 9.5mm postive film stock. Originally priced at £5.95 (1973), within a year or so, these prints cost £7.70. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" came from an early UK demo print, "Out For A Duck" from a French Pathe-Baby release MS.80017 "Quand Un Canard" (When A Duck).
Many of the Novascope 9.5mm film releases were excellently reviewed in great detail in the Group 9.5 magazine by the indefatigable Maurice Trace, who has also produced some superb detailed catalogues of both sound and silent Pathescope 9.5mm film releases and continues to write a regular film review column in the magazine. Issue 39 (February 1972) of "The 9.5 Review" includes "The Rounders" and "Home Cured"; issue 2 (Autumn 1972) of "9.5" (the magazine had been relaunched as a quarterly), includes "Uncle Tom's Cabin", "Good Cheer", "Christmas Day Around the World" and "Spot the Stars"; issue 4 (Spring 1973) of "9.5" includes "Out For A Duck"; issue 7 (Winter 1973/1974) includes "British Screen News", "Moonshine" and "Sundown Limited"; issue 8 (Spring 1974) includes "Charlie the Bricklayer", "Farina's Fairground" and "Felix in Hollywood"; issue 10 (Autumn 1974) reviews just "Belles of Liberty".
A number of titles were actually announced in the Novascope news sheets or the Group 9.5 magazine but for various reasons didn't actually appear - "Paul's First Kiss"; "The Snake Charmer" and "Muggsy's First Sweetheart"; whilst mention was also made of further optical sound releases "Dick Turpin's Ride To York"; songs from "Land Without Music" and Bubble & Squeak cartoons, but low sound print sales prevented further optical sound releases.
NOVASCOPE 9.5mm FILM RELEASES
-----------------------------
Ref.No. P.Ref. 9.5mm Film Title Classification Rel.Date Orig. Film Title Date Country
S.1001 Oh What A Night (The Rounders) Comedy N2/1971 ROUNDERS (THE) 07/09/14*US
(Charles Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle, Al St.John, Charley Chase, Minta Durfee, Fritz Schade,
Phyllis Allen, Wallace MacDonald in this Keystone production written and directed by
Chaplin. Charlie and Fatty play two characters rather fond of alcohol. They return to
their hotel after a night of celebration, to be faced with their angry wives. Retreating
to a restaurant they create havoc when their wives arrive.)
S.1002 The Desert Rider Western N1/1971 DESERT RIDER 11/05/29 US
(This exciting western, a Sunset Picture directed by Robert Bradbury starring Jack Hoxie
with Frank Rice and Walter Wilkinson, is the story of a prospector who foolishly tells a
stranger of a gold find he has made. In a fight he is fatally wounded - a local rancher
promises to look after the dying man's son - the stranger returns and attacks the ranch...)
C.1005 Charlie On Holiday (Chaplin) Comedy N1/1971 DAY'S PLEASURE (A) 07/12/19*US
(Charlie and his family are planning a pleasure cruise around the bay. They set off for the
pier in their Model T, but before they can reach the boat a series of mishaps occur
involving a policeman and a barrel of tar.)
S.1006 (Paul's First Kiss (2 reels) Comedy N3/1972 )
S.1007 The Conductor's Courtship Drama N1/1971 CONDUCTOR'S COURTSHIP (THE) ??/??/14*US
(Silent serial queen Helen Holmes in one of the episodes from "The Hazards of Helen", Helen
and her guardian work for the railroad. Helen loves a conductor, her guardian has other
ideas. The hero and Helen elope and a chase ensues.)
C.1009 Edwardian London Interest N2/1971 ??/??/0? GB
(A cinematic page of history. This fascinating early travelogue includes shots of Piccadilly,
The Strand, Covent Garden and Fleet Strret taken in the 1900s - horse drawn trams and all!)
F.1012 (D30655 The Snake Charmer Comedy Apr/1972 NIGHT IN THE SHOW (A) 20/11/15 US )
F.1014 9/26 Beautiful Monaco Interest N2/1971 PATHE PICTORIAL? ??/??/5? GB
(A short travel film including pictures of Princess Grace (Grace Kelly), Prince Rainier, their
Palace and guards, lovely scenery and a few shots of the motor racing.)
S.1016 Home Cured Comedy N2/1971 HOME CURED 14/03/26 US
(In this madcap farce from the Twenties, Johnny Arthur plays a young man with a bad case of
hypochondria. His condition is worsened by his disastrous attempts to improve his 'ailments'.
Directed by "William Goodrich" the pseudonym used by Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle in later years.)
S.1020 The Tennis Wizard (2 reels) Comedy N1/1971 TENNIS WIZARD (THE) 21/11/26 US
(This entertaining twenties comedy remains as fresh as ever, and is a 'must' for your shows.
Featuring Earle Foxe as the young man whose fiancee's heart is swayed by the tennis club
champion. The champ challenges our hero to a contest, and the latter has a chance to prove
himself, but not before taking part in what must be the most incredible tennis match ever filmed.)
S.1020 The Tennis Wizard (1 reel) Comedy R2/1973 TENNIS WIZARD (THE) 21/11/26*US
C.1021 Felix Follows the Swallows Cartoon N1/1971 FELIX FOLLOWS THE SWALLOWS 01/02/25 US
(Fed up with the icy winter, Felix takes a tip from swallows and travels south. Arriving in
Africa he almost ends up in a cannibal's cooking pot, then falls foul of an ape. He decides
Africa is too hot for him and heads for home.)
S.1023 Fragile With Care (Walter Forde) Comedy N3/1972 WALTER'S WINNING WAYS ??/01/22 GB
(British Walter Forde comedy)
F.1026 9/54 Braemar Games Interest N3/1972 AMATEUR PRODUCTION ? (16fps) ??/??/5? GB
(Travelogue featuring the Scottish Highland Games - from the Pathéscope "British Scenes" series.)
F.1027 9/55 Henley Regatta Interest R1/1973 AMATEUR PRODUCTION ? (16fps) ??/??/5? GB
(Another original Pathéscope release from their "The British Scene" series.)
C.1028 9/33 The Big Top Interest N3/1971 PATHE NEWS 56/103 ??/12/56 GB
(Another circus film which will prove very popular with family audiences.)
C.1029 ??? Circus Time Interest N2/1971 CIRCUS THRILLS ??/??/5? GB
(A visit to a world famous circus with fine shots of performing elephants and Liberty horses.)
S.1030 Good Cheer (Our Gang) Comedy N3/1972 GOOD CHEER 10/01/26 US
(For over forty years Our Gang have been firm favourites with 9.5mm enthusiasts, but none of
the earlier releases were funnier than this sparkling comedy, released in time for Christmas.
Having hung up their stockings, the Gang go to bed but their sleep is soon disturbed by
bootleggers dressed as Santas (with hooch at the bottom of their toy sacks) who are trying
to escape from the police. The real Father Cristmas takes a hand with hilarious results
and an unexpected bonus for the kids. Give your family a Yuletide treat with this film.)
F.1031 9/37 Ice Tricks Interest N2/1971 PATHE NEWS 57/23 & 57/5 ??/??/57 GB
(An interesting little film showing spectacular acrobatics taken at an American Ice Show.)
C.1033 9/60 Spot The Stars (Quiz Film) Interest N3/1972 SPOT THE STARS ??/??/50 GB
(A party quiz film which tests your audience's knowledge of screen personalities -
a film issued by Associated British-Pathe from Pathe News and Pathe Pictorial items.)
S.1034 (Muggsy's First Sweetheart Comedy Apr/1972 MUGGSY'S FIRST SWEETHEART 30/06/10 US )
(A comedy featuring Mary Pickford and Billy Quirk directed by D.W.Griffith.)
F.1035 9/57 Wimbledon Interest R1/1973 AMATEUR PRODUCTION ? (16fps) ??/??/5? GB
(Another original Pathéscope release from their "The British Scene" series.)
F.1036 9/36 Air Hitch Hike Interest N3/1972 PATHE NEWS 57/94 & 56/45 ??/??/57 GB
(Showing a rescue by aeroplane.)
F.1037 9/58 Royal Agricultural Show Interest R1/1973 AMATEUR PRODUCTION ? (16fps) ??/??/5? GB
(Another original Pathescope release from their "The British Scene" series.)
C.1039 The Haunted Hotel (Vitagraph 1907) Comedy N1/1971 HAUNTED HOTEL (THE) ??/??/07*US
(An early example of 'camera magic' - animation and stop motion from J. Stuart Blackton. It
tells of the curious happenings which befall a traveller.)
M.1043 M30729 Christmas Day Around The World Interest N3/1972 PATHE NEWS 54/101 ??/12/54 GB
(A very special Christmas release that takes you, the audience, round the world on Christmas Day
showing how worshippers in many lands gather to give thanks in their different ways.)
S.1044 Charlie The Bricklayer (Chaplin) Comedy N3/1972 PAY DAY 02/04/22*US
(Charlie Chaplin as the world's speediest bricklayer. When his pay arrives he tries to keep
it back from his wife to little avail. However he manages to celebrate quite well and becomes
involved with an overcoat, a rainstorm, a tram and his wife again. Chaplin at his best.)
C.1047 U-Boat In Action (German title) Interest N3/1972 UFA NEWSREEL ??/??/41*GER
(From an authentic wartime Nazi newsreel comes this interesting documentary which depicts one
of the dreaded vessels on a "sink and destroy" mission. The print actually has the original
German title: "U-Boate Auf Feindeahrt")
F.1050 D30477 The Flying Bomb (War) Interest Feb/1973 PATHE GAZETTE 44/54 ??/07/44 GB
(Fascinating wartime pictures of the dreaded weapon (the V.1 rocket bomb) taken by day and night.)
C.1055 Farina's Fairground (Our Gang) Comedy R1/1973 BOYS WILL BE JOYS 26/07/25 US
(All the fun of the fair when Our Gang set up their stalls. Farina has her own booth of
course - and she makes sure that customers get their moneysworth.)
C.1057 British Screen News Interest R1/1973 BRITISH SCREEN NEWS 31/09/25*GB
(A genuine silent newsreel in miniature, presenting a few events from the year 1926. We see
King George V and Queen Mary visiting Newcastle, pictures of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison
opening a museum and the spectacular flop of the "Flying Flapper" - a quaint ornithopter.)
S.1058 Belles Of Liberty Comedy R2/1974 BELLS OF LIBERTY ??/??/17*US
(A real scoop for Novascope - a superb Monty Banks farce never before available for home
exhibition. The plot involves cars in swimming pools, Liberty Bonds and the buxom belles
who sell them - culminating, of course, in a glorious car chase sequence. Excellent
production values, riotous gags and slick direction make this reel an essential addition
to your film collection. Monty, incidentally, appears on the credits under his original
Hollywood style of "Frenchy Bianchi".)
C.1061 Convict Charlie (Chaplin) Comedy R1/1973 ADVENTURER (THE) 23/10/17*US
(Charlie as a fugitive from the law. Two policemen are soon on his tail but he leads them
a merry dance. The most famous sequences from the Mutual film "The Adventurer".)
C.1063 Felix Hyps The Hippo Cartoon R2/1974 FELIX HYPS THE HIPPO 01/02/24*US
(Felix reads a handbook on hypnotism and uses his newly acquired prowess to great advantage.
A reward of $1000 is offered for the return of a lost hippopotamus; it's easy money for a
cat with hypnotic eyes.)
C.1064 Felix In Hollywood Cartoon R1/1973 FELIX IN HOLLYWOOD 01/10/23 US
(Felix the Cat makes his way to the big studios .... and to stardom, perhaps? Not quite,
but manages to have fun with Chaplin, Ben Turpin and other Hollywood personalities.)
S.1065 Moonshine (Lloyd Hamilton) Comedy R1/1973 MOONSHINE ??/??/21*US
(Ham, although born amid shot and shell, is the very opposite of warlike when he grows up.
One of his jobs is to deliver the illicit whisky made by his parents and this he distributes
so freely that even the farmyard animals get full benefit. Adenoid Applesauce is the object
of Ham's affections and Merciless Milton his unscrupulous rival for her hand. Milton reports
the illicit still to the Revenue men who descend in force. Their efforts are madcap in the
extreme - but Ham can more than hold his own when it comes to craziness!)
S.1071 Sundown Limited (Our Gang) Comedy R1/1973 SUN DOWN LIMITED (THE) 21/09/24 US
(Our Gang in one of their best loved comedies (issued by Pathéscope as "Full Steam Ahead").
They have a fine time on the steam engine in a marshalling yard until Authority steps in
to spoil their fun. Undeterred they build their very own railway "The Sundown Limited",
which actually works until a rival gang put a spanner in the works.)
S.1075 Charlie Makes Good (Chaplin) Comedy R1/1973 PILGRIM (THE) 25/02/23 US
(Charlie - on the run from prison again - steals a parson's clothes and is accepted by the
Evangelical Society as their local preacher. His pious efforts to please do not find favour
with his flock. One of his fellow jailbirds recognises him and steals a sum of money; in
retrieving the loot, Charlie is arrested, but even a sheriff's heart can be moved at times!)
C.1076 London In The 1920's Interest R2/1974 UNKNOWN ??/??/2?*GB
(A popular 9.5mm release in 1971 was "Edwardian London". This companion reel features shots
of Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park and the Strand among other places affording interesting viewd
of period fashions and traffic.)
T.101 Uncle Tom's Cabin Cartoon Feb/1973 DIXIE DAYS 08/04/30*US
(Harriet Beecher Stowe's famous story has here been turned into high comedy in this fine cartoon.
Non-stop fun and a tuneful musical track make this a must for your sound shows.)
T.102 Out For A Duck Cartoon Feb/1973 SCRAPPY'S EXPEDITION ? ??/??/34*US
(It's a trying day for our feathered friend. First he makes amorous advances which get a wooden
response. Worse, he becomes the target of two intrepid young hunters. The pace hots up, but
when an ostrich pops up from nowhere to mete out punishment, our young friends wonder - can all
this be happening? See this amusing and unusual cartoon.)
NOTES: 1. P.Ref. is the original Pathéscope reference number
where title originates from a Pathescope triple negative.
2. S.1006 "Paul's First Kiss" - only a 'test band' struck - no copies released.
3. F.1012 "The Snake Charmer" & S.1034 "Muggsy's First Sweetheart"
announced in "The 9.5 Review" No.39 (April 1972) but not issued.
3. F=50ft C=100ft M=200ft S=300ft T=Sound(250-300ft)
4. The Novascope release date year refers to the date of the
Novacope news sheet in which the film is first listed.
The code in front of the year is the relevant news sheet
issue. N1/1971, N2/1971 & N3/1972 are "Novascope"; Feb/1973 is
"Novascope News"; R1/1973 & R2/1974 are "Novascope Review".
5. Descriptions (in italics) are generally sourced or
condensed from the Novascope news sheets.
6. C1028 "The Big Top" was initially advertised as "The Big Circus"
7. Many thanks to Dave Richardson, Pat Moules, Maurice Trace,
Peter Foreman and Dave Wyatt for extra valuable information.
NovaList/gln/16.12.98/webpage12Mar2003
Text updated 07Aug2011; many film descriptions & dates added 08Aug2011
Announced but unissued titles "The Snake Charmer" & "Muggsy's First Sweetheart" added 15Aug2011
"Convict Charlie" film box scan added 24Aug2011
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