Edwardian Insects on Film
Charlie Hamilton-James tries to recreate amateur naturalist Percy Smith's 1908 film The Acrobatic Fly, in which a bluebottle juggles a series of objects, and tells Smith's story.
In 1908, amateur naturalist Percy Smith stunned cinema goers with his surreal film The Acrobatic Fly. Featuring a bluebottle juggling a series of objects, the film became front page news. Now wildlife cameraman Charlie Hamilton-James attempts to recreate this fascinating film.
Along the way, Hamilton-James (helped by Sir David Attenborough, who saw Smith's films as a boy) tells the story of Percy's remarkable career and reveals the genius behind this forgotten pioneer of British film.
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Clips
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Charlie and Tim photograph a Fly
Duration: 02:44
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The Acrobatic Fly II
Duration: 04:12
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Recreating The Acrobatic Fly
Duration: 02:58
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Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Charlie Hamilton-James |
| Producer | John Holdsworth |
| Director | John Holdsworth |
| Executive Producer | Emma Morgan |
Broadcasts
- Tue 19 Mar 2013 21:00
- Wed 20 Mar 2013 02:40
- Tue 28 Jun 2016 00:00
- Mon 13 Mar 2017 00:40