MOONBASE CENTRAL

Monday, 29 December 2025

A World Before VHS - 8mm Movies

Hi Woodsy,

Here is a look at the world of 8mm home movies, from the days before videotape. Mostly silent, black and white, and heavily cut down.

It does mention the more risque side of the 8mm world, including the 'under the counter' titles. However, most are regular movies, shorts, and cartoons, in various lengths.

Often a single film would be cut up, and made in to several different 8mm releases, each under a different title. Lots of great old artwork from the box tops.

The prices are impressive – collecting these films was only for the dedicated. As I have said before, I did not even know this world existed in the 1960s and 1970s, and never saw any of these 8mm movies in New Zealand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DOpbDNOYgY

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Do you collect 8mm, Super 8 or Cinefilms readers?

Sunday, 28 December 2025

Elementary TV

I caught The Hound of the Baskerville's on TV last night. It's one of my favourite Victorian gothic tales and a stroke of genius by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

It's mix of science, moorland, tors, murk and the supernatural is simply fantastic and I watch at least one version every Christmas.

Last night's was the modernish Roxburgh Hart one from 2002 and second only to the Cushing Hammer horror version in my mind.

Having said that there are 20 odd versions of the Hound's tale on film and TV, most of which have eluded me, including the early Basil Rathbone film, which I've never seen either. That's something I need to sort out this new year.

For me, the Watson character, that Ian Hart plays in the 2002 flick, holds real allure. He's an unattached man of action - unlike me! - and will turn his hand to anything. He also wears fabulous Tweedy trousers and jackets, eats posh nosh constantly and carries all sorts of gear a bit like Batman! Telescope, binoculars and even a revolver, which is always unusual, seeing a British man with a gun! Yes, I can see myself being Watson in another life!

How about you? Holmes, Watson, Mortimer or Stapleton?

Checking the Radio Times I see that the Christopher Plummer Sherlock vehicle, Murder by Decree, is on tonight here in Blighty. 9pm Legend Xtra, sadly a channel, Freeview 69, which I cannot get, despite re-tuning the telly. Doh!

I'll see if it's on Prime.

Do you like Sherlock Holmes films readers?