Before video recorders were commonplace in homes, the only way to watch films at your leisure in the comfort of your own home was to wait for a TV broadcast – which could be 3 – 5 years after its cinema run – or purchase or rent an 8mm version. There were two versions available – Standard 8 and Super 8. These were often condensed versions of the movies, but many were available in complete editions. The drawback would be running around five reels of 400ft cine film to watch it fully.
People of a certain age will recall reading magazines in the ‘70s with garish ads for classic horror or even Star Wars, which got a high-profile edited release on Super 8 before it even played in UK cinemas! As a youngster, it felt like magic to be able to project these films at home. If only we knew what would be around the corner…
Former projectionist at CIC and Paramount UK, Mark Williams’ book takes a look at how our favourite genres was represented in the Super 8 format. Meticulously researched and gloriously illustrated with box covers and adverts, this is a wonderful celebration of a bygone age. While there are still many avid collectors all over the world, Super 8 is the ultimate tactile format that was and is accessible to people in the home. Surprisingly, reels were still being made into the mid-‘80s, with the likes of Aliens (1986) getting the cine film treatment.
As well as the movies, there’s information about the companies that licensed and released the films, making it an impressive read all round. Whether you’re a collector, have an interest in ‘dead’ formats, or are merely fascinated with film history, Bootlace Cinema is a valuable resource and entertaining read. While full features are harder to find these days outside of specialist film fairs, condensed digests pop up regularly on auction sites. It’s the perfect time to start a new obsession hobby. Just don’t bid against me!
BOOTLACE CINEMA is out now. Order here.
