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Edwardian Insects on Film Poster

Edwardian Insects on Film

In 1908, amateur naturalist and pioneering filmmaker Percy Smith stunned early cinema goers with his footage of the juggling fly. Hailed as the father of Natural History film, Smith was a hugely influential visual pioneer, inventing many techniques that are still used today. Being both a genius and an eccentric, we follow his life from his earliest films, to the collapse of his house from his mould experiment to his ultimate suicide. We also meet Natural History icon Sir David Attenborough, who was so amazed by Smith’s films in the 1930s that they inspired him to get into natural history.

Top Cast

  • Charlie Hamilton James

    Charlie Hamilton James

    Self - Presenter

  • David Attenborough

    David Attenborough

    Self

  • Dr Tim Boon

    Dr Tim Boon

    Self - Science Museum, London

  • David Cleveland

    David Cleveland

    Self - Film Archivist

  • Tim Cockerill

    Tim Cockerill

    Self - Entomologist

  • Bryony Dixon

    Bryony Dixon

    Self - Curator, Silent Film, BFI

  • Jenny Hammerton

    Jenny Hammerton

    Self - Film Archivist

  • Michael Harvey

    Michael Harvey

    Self - National Media Museum

  • Percy Smith

    Percy Smith

    Self - archive footage

Overview

In 1908, amateur naturalist and pioneering filmmaker Percy Smith stunned early cinema goers with his footage of the juggling fly. Hailed as the father of Natural History film, Smith was a hugely influential visual pioneer, inventing many techniques that are still used today. Being both a genius and an eccentric, we follow his life from his earliest films, to the collapse of his house from his mould experiment to his ultimate suicide. We also meet Natural History icon Sir David Attenborough, who was so amazed by Smith’s films in the 1930s that they inspired him to get into natural history.

Rating

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