Cinematic Era: 1964 Vintage

An 8mm film by Ken Jacobs made after his 16mm camera was stolen

A film by Ken Jacobs made in 8mm

An account of the one of the pivotal conflicts of the First World War, using archive film and interviews with survivors to portray the reality of warfare. Originally shown as part of the landmark BBC series from 1964, The Great War.

Although there was some ‘new’ colour footage from this gig in ‘The Beatles Eight Day’s a Week – the touring years, I think it was a missed opportunity not having more from this amazing show from Melbourne in 1964. The scenes in Australia were if anything more riotous than in the US. When the Beatles arrived in Adelaide, something like half the population lined a motorcade from the airport to their hotel! I think this is one of the best filmed Beatles performances. Unlike Shea, the sound has not been ‘doctored’ – ie there have been no overdubs made, yet the Beatles sound great! For me, You Can’t Do That and Long Tall Sally are the stand out songs. I especially love the end of Long Tall Sally, when a guy looking exactly like John Lennon, manages to get on stage, and shakes John’s hand in the middle of the song!! Hopefully, in the not too distant future, we will get an official DVD of The Beatles full concert performances. If we do, this show must be included.

Mario Masini, collaborator of Alberto Grifi, cameraman for Carmelo Bene and cinematographer of Teza 2008 by the legendary Ethiopian director Haile Gerima, explores the lithograph by the artist Emilio Vedova that gives the film its title. A wide range of movements over the lithograph and editing that alternates accelerated sequences of urban landscapes, daytime and nocturnal interiors, unfold against a background of a cut-up soundtrack from different sources. —Tate Modern

Uses juxtaposition and overlaid images to create a poetic evocation of Spain through scenes of bullfights and flamenco dancing. Accompanied by flamenco music.

A chinese documentary.

Short film for the "A Commercial for Myself" programme.

Short film for the "A Commercial for Myself" programme.

Short film for the "A Commercial for Myself" programme.

Short film for the "A Commercial for Myself" programme.

Short film for the "A Commercial for Myself" programme.

Dream matrix, history written in lightning image, memory and the TV syntax, images flowing and fused together to other images and electronic tapestry of images half seen, sought for, seeking man's dreams, movies as dreams, history as media. "The artist will tell you it is as much a process he is interested in ... as a result. Art is a process – life is a process – are they the same process? So many of the artists became unhappy about this eternal, unyielding quality in their art, and they began to wish their work were more like shoes, more temporary, more human, more able to admit of the possibility of change. The fixed, finished work began to be supplemented by the idea of work as a process, constantly becoming something else, tentative, allowing more than one interpretation." – Dick Higgins

Succiso, province of Reggio Emilia: the valley is slowly collapsing and people are forced to abandon their homes, which are now unsafe.

Preserved by the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

The Xmas office party was as boozy in 1964 as any today, but it was another three years before drink drive laws were introduced. This photo montage film was shot in the producers' offices, and prominently features their head of advertising. More alarming is the final message which, while avoiding the shock tactics of later campaigns, suggests that women are to blame when men drink and drive!

Esteemed actor Cliff Robertson narrates this moving documentary, which was produced just months after President John F. Kennedy's 1963 assassination. Through a montage of photos and film clips, the program chronicles the idyllic "Camelot" years of the 35th president and his elegant society wife, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, as well as JFK's childhood, his naval service during World War II and his early days as a young politician.

This film explores Soviet political viewpoints and shows ways in which the U.S. countered Soviet propaganda, including the use of the U.S. Information Agency (USIA).

About a tall, chain-smoking con man and a short, bulbous patsy of a man.

About a tall, chain-smoking con man and a short, bulbous patsy of a man.

The hills around the mining town of Rock City are infested with outlaws. Sheriff Preston, a gentleman sheriff, prefers to disarm the outlaws with cunning strategy instead of using his gun.