This film is part of Free
India: Hunting with Elephants
On the trail of big game in this extraordinary home movie shot by famous hunter and conservationist Jim Corbett
Overview
Edward James (aka Jim) Corbett was one of India’s most famous big game hunters who, improbably, became one of its most significant conservationists. In this film, one of several home movies he made, it is the sheer scale of the hunt which seems so extraordinary today - dozens of elephants and a cast of hundreds. The juxtaposition of images - jolly picnics following the slaughter of ‘big game’ - is particularly unsettling.
Born in 1875 in Nainital, Corbett recorded his hunting exploits in a series of books including Man-Eaters of Kumaon - hugely popular boys’ own adventures that continue to be widely read. Corbett progressed from shooting the wildlife to preserving it and helped to form both the Association for the Preservation of Game in the United Provinces and the All-India Conference for the Preservation of Wild Life. Corbett left India with the rest of the British in 1947, and moved to Kenya where he died in 1955. India’s oldest national park was re-named the Jim Corbett National Park in his honour later that year.
Related
Mother Mother
Documentary 1947 16 mins
A social worker teaches her Indian village neighbours about clean, modern childbirth
Child Child
Documentary 1947 18 mins Silent
Advice for village families on raising children to become strong, healthy citizens
Dangerous Journey Dangerous Journey
Documentary 1944 73 mins Silent
Expeditions to parts of North and South America, India and Burma (Myanmar).
Sports dans l'armée des Indes Sports dans l'armée des Indes
Interest film 1910 5 mins Silent
A demonstration of sport and fitness by members of the Indian Army
Honey Harvest in India Honey Harvest in India
Non-Fiction 1936 9 mins Silent
Death-defying antics on behalf of the sweet-toothed, in a home movie shot by hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett
India - Personal Film 1 - C. 1940 India - Personal Film 1 - C. 1940
Amateur film 1940 2 mins Silent
Family life in colonial India - baby Georgina with her British mother and Chinese amah, possibly in Calcutta
Silver Haze - Exclusive Q&A Silver Haze - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 29 mins
Vicky Knight sits down with Rowan Woods for an extended discussion on the making of the film Silver Haze. *Contains Spoilers*
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.