Trick Dogs (1956)

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• published: 13 Apr 2014
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Benson, Oxfordshire. M/S of some cream-coloured puppies and an adult dog (Labradors? Golden Retrievers?) in an enclosure; they stop tearing round to watch three corgis scamper past outside the cage, pulling a small covered wagon containing two grey rabbits (I love Colour Pictorials!). Various shots of the corgis, Brag, Roddy and Pip, trotting along and pulling the wagon. C/U of breeder-trainers John and Mary Holmes who are encouraging the dogs to run towards them in a field. M/Ss as the corgis arrive and are petted by the couple; they wear matching outfits of felt 'hunting' hats, tweedy jackets, kilts and knee-length socks. The rabbits are taken out of the wagon and chained to a weight; C/U of them sitting there with noses a-twitching. Commentator tells us John and Mary take their travelling act to carnivals, fetes and agricultural shows. M/S as John leads a dog, Fahmi the Saluki, into a run; the dog then leaps through a hoop mounted over a podium where other dogs and a goat are standing. John and Mary stand proudly beside the podium with the animals (I think this is the finale of their act). M/S as Mary lets three Indian Runner ducks out of a basket. Two Border Collies, Judy and Jed, follow John's whistled instructions and direct the ducks into a pen, sheepdog style. Note: there are notes on John and Mary Holmes on file. For anyone interested, the rabbits are called Peter and Paul. John and Mary also feature in CP 286 'Animal Farm'. 90,000 historic films, all SEARCHABLE on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/britishpathe Join us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/britishpathe Tweet us @britishpathe FILM ID:41.08