Biography of 'HARPER, Alan James'
Film-maker
Born: June 19, 1903, Edinburgh
Died: 1974, Edinburgh
Harper joined his father Campbell Harper in the family photography business somewhat reluctantly. In the 1930s he persuaded his father to expand into moving film setting up Campbell Harper Films in studios in Alva Street, Edinburgh. The company made documentary, educational and industrial films for a variety of sponsors, many of which found cinema release.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Harper was called up to join the RAF but served only one year due to poor health. On his return home he received commissions to make Home Front propaganda and short information films for the Ministry of Information and the Scottish Office.
The company moved premises in 1946 to new studios at Hill Street, which they shared with the Edinburgh Film Guild. In the 1950s, Harper’s company was one of the first to win commissions from the newly established Films of Scotland producing some twenty two titles over the next fifteen years.
Harper was a member of the Scottish Arts Guild, an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society and member of the British Kinematograph Society. On his retirement in 1972 the company was sold as a going concern to Park Film Studios.
Researcher: Carolyn Young
Films associated with 'COCOZZA, Enrico'
39 hits
ABERDEEN [2320]Add to my filmsThe historical background to the growth of the city of Aberdeen. |
1970 sound col |
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AULD TAM McGUIRE [2144]Add to my filmsThe dramatised enactment of a comic poem. [Tam McGuire is played by Duncan Macrae.] |
1951 sound bw |
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BATHING THE BABY [1346]Add to my filmsIllustrates how to bathe a baby correctly. |
1938 silent bw |
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BENEATH THE SKYLINE [3675]Add to my filmsBeneath the Skyline concerns scenes of industrial, urban, and country life in the Edinburgh area. However these aspects are represented by buildings, machinery, and birds rather than through the people who live there. |
1966 sound col |
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CALLER HERRIN' [0388]Add to my filmsHerring fishing off the north- east coast of Scotland ; the film follows the fishing boats from the time they put out to sea to the unloading of the catch at the fish market. It includes shots of fishwives gutting by hand and the process of traditional 'kippering'. |
1947 sound bw |
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CHILD WELFARE [1349]Add to my filmsThe local authority's maternity and child welfare service in operation, showing the benefits to mother and child. |
1938 silent bw |
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CITY’S FARMS, the [1348]Add to my filmsFilm showing the hygienic care taken of cows before and after milking at farms owned by Glasgow Corporation. Demonstrates the use of sterilising and pasteurisation to produce a "safe" milk supply for hospitals and tuberculosis sanatoria. |
1940 silent bw |
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CONTINUATION SCHOOLS [3424]Add to my filmsCampbell Harper title profiling the Continuation Schools in Edinburgh, a form of further education/apprenticeship training ranging from apprentice shipwrights to apprentice hairdressers. |
1945 silent bw |
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COUNTRY HOMES [1345]Add to my filmsHow "country homes" for needy children were run, recounted through one child's experience. |
Onsite only |
1938 silent bw |
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COUNTRY OF THE BLIND, the [2002]Add to my filmsThe work of the Scottish National Institution for the War Blinded. |
1968 sound col |
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DISTANCE NO OBJECT [2044]Add to my filmsThe Cable Belt rope driven conveyor at work. |
1959 sound bw |
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EDUCATION OF THE DEAF, the [7297]Add to my filmsInstructional film showing the educational facilities provided by local authorities for teaching deaf children to communicate, with an emphasis on speech. Includes footage of education and leisure activities for deaf children and examples of occupational training in later life. |
1937 silent bw |
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EPSTEIN: The Memorial Exhibition in Edinburgh [2011]Add to my filmsFootage of Edinburgh and the Epstein exhibition of sculpture as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. |
1961 sound bw |
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FARM IS RECLAIMED, a [0490]Add to my filmsHow, with government help and his own good farming sense, a Scottish farmer puts a derelict farm into good heart in one year. |
1945 sound bw |
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FIBRE WEB, the [2040]Add to my filmsThe processing of the raw materials required for paper-making and some of the end products. |
1964 sound col |
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FORTH - POWERHOUSE FOR INDUSTRY [1820]Add to my filmsA look at the development of sources of power, the industries, and new towns along the borders of the River Forth. |
1968 sound bwcol |
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FREEDOM OF ABERFELDY [0107]Add to my filmsThe town of Aberfeldy during wartime when the women provided a 'home' for Dominion troops on leave. |
1943 sound bw |
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GOOD HEALTH TO SCOTLAND [0271]Add to my filmsMade during the war, the film promotes various health measures e.g. ante-natal clinics, school milk, holiday camps for children and inoculation. |
1944 sound bw |
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GOOD SERVANT, the [2211]Add to my filmsThe story of the Clydesdale horse, from foal to champion at the Royal Highland Show. |
1958 sound col |
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HERIOT WATT COLLEGE, EDINBURGH [1862]Add to my filmsA guide to facilities showing students learning diverse techniques at Heriot Watt College, in its Chambers Street buildings, Edinburgh. Subjects include Pharmacy, Optics, Mine Rescue and Engineering. |
1938 silent bw |
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HIGHLAND CAPITAL [2213]Add to my filmsInverness as a focal point for Highland life past and present: from St. Columba and King Bruce to the Loch Ness Monster and the World Pipe Band Championships. (20 mins) |
1968 sound col |
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J. & P. COATS TRAINING FILM [4140]Add to my filmsA training film from Coats Thread Makers. The film shows the machines which are used to spin and and put the thread onto spindles. The film was to show employees how to clean and maintain these machines to ensure that they stayed in perfect working order. [no intertitles] |
Onsite only |
1954 silent col |
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LAND LIVED IN, a [2217]Add to my filmsCastles and country houses in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. |
1957 sound col |
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L'ANNIVERSAIRE [0848]Add to my filmsThe first film to be made in Scotland by a company of French players speaking their own language, it tells the story of a mother's birthday. |
1950 sound bw |
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LIFE IN THE ORKNEYS [2009]Add to my filmsLife on the Orkney islands seen through the eyes of a mail boat skipper, a farmer and a civil air-service pilot. Film includes brief shot of German fleet in Scapa Flow prior to scuttling in 1919 and an aerial shot of the Churchill Barriers. |
1957 sound bw |
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NEW LIVES [1684]Add to my filmsSome aspects of the Church of Scotland Extension work are shown in this story of a family's evacuation from an Edinburgh slum to a new housing area, in Pilton. |
1939 silent bw |
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PASTEURISED MILK [1344]Add to my filmsThe transport, pasteurisation and testing of milk for public consumption. |
1938 silent bw |
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PROSPECT FOR A CITY [2807]Add to my filmsProduced to commemorate the bi-centenary of Craig's Plan for the first New Town of Edinburgh, 1767, the film shows the Town's buildings, gardens and monuments. |
1967 sound col |
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ROYAL SCOTTISH MUSEUM, EDINBURGH [2274]Add to my filmsThe Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh, its history and the work of the various departments, etc. |
1945 silent bw |
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SCOTLAND DANCES [2224]Add to my filmsThe tradition of Scottish Highland and Country dancing, reflecting some of its world-wide popularity. |
1957 sound col |
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SEED OF PROSPERITY [0495]Add to my filmsA survey of the condition of potato crops and measures taken to combat their disease. |
1946 sound bw |
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STAN AND OLLIE [0492]Add to my filmsStan Laurel and Oliver Hardy sightseeing in Edinburgh where they visit the castle and make an appearance on stage at the Playhouse Cinema. |
1932 silent bw |
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STOBHILL HOSPITAL: The Story of a Modern Hospital [1347]Add to my filmsThe work of a modern hospital with shots 'behind the scenes' showing the kitchens, dispensary, telephone switchboard and nurses relaxing off-duty. |
Full length available onsite |
1938 silent bw |
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STORY OF TORMORE, the [2795]Add to my filmsThe construction of the Tormore Distillery on Speyside, highlighting some of the aspects of the social and historical setting of the development. |
1963 sound col |
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SUN, WIND AND RAIN [2038]Add to my filmsAn educational film about the weather. |
1968 sound col |
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TAY ROAD BRIDGE [2243]Add to my filmsThe building of the Tay Road Bridge from the initial stages to the official opening. |
1967 sound col |
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TENEMENT WARDEN [1386]Add to my filmsAn illustration of how to cope with an air raid, including first-aid and fire fighting procedures. The film also shows air raid shelters being built and put into practice. |
1941 sound bw |
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THESE ARE OUR CHILDREN: Activity, Discovery and Learning in Edinburgh Primary Schools [3085]Add to my filmsReview of experimental teaching techniques in use in Edinburgh Primary Schools - reading library, Cuisenaire rods, elementary science, introduction to French. |
1965 sound col |
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VIEW FROM THE BASS, a [2913]Add to my filmsThe county of East Lothian, in particular the town of North Berwick and its links with Robert Louis Stevenson. Includes shot of Berwick Law and group of Boy Scouts in kilts climbing it. |
1963 sound col |
39 hits