HOME MOVIES: 1930s

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1930s

Format: 16mm

Description: Shot by an unknown filmmaker during a trip to Africa in the 1930s, this silent home movie shows the a safari and big game hunt. At :15, white hunters pose with a large group of locals, around a deceased bull elephant. At :44, natives pose with a large piece of elephant meat, and are shown butchering an animal. At 1:10, the tusk is removed by bearers. At 2:10, another bull elephant is seen, with the hunter proudly posing between its gigantic tusks. At 2:38, another view of the carcass, while the natives stand attentive watch. At 3:13, the butcher process of the elephant begins with a machete-like knife, in an attempt to liberate the tusks. At 3:56 a joyous dance occurs. (Wish we knew what tribe or group of people this is!) At 6:07, a tusk is shown being cleaned up for transport. At 6:25, a local woman poses for the camera. At 7:43, a large group of people join in cutting up the elephant, presumably to get a share of the meat. At 8:30, large folds of elephant hide are cut off the animal. At 9:20, the entire group is seen working on the carcass. At 9:30, the hunters pose with their ivory, forming an arch over their heads. At 10:12 the party is seen moving through the bush. At 10:28, yet another elephant is seen on the ground, apparently still alive -- and it is given coup d'grace shots with elephant guns. At 10:47 the elated hunters jump up and down on the corpse and at 11:00 pose on its tusks. At 11:20, the hunters are seen posing with a dead rhino. At 12:33, the natives pose for the camera while standing on the rhino. At 13:50 the rhino is rolled over so that it can be butchered, and the party sets to work on the grim task. At 14:10, sheets of hide are removed. At 14:21, a native boy uses a boy and arrow to do target practice. At 14:33, another elephant corpse is shown. At 15:05, the hunter sits atop his prize and warmly shakes the hands of his guides. At 15:50, ivory is transported by bearers as the party leaves the hunting grounds.

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