Old Smokey

Running around a public park, being chased by a man in a grey trenchcoat aiming what appears to be a real gun, was probably a little easier to get away with back in the 70s for home movie making than it would be today. Having said that, perhaps if we'd actually run into anybody while filming at VanDusen Botanical Gardens that day, we might still have been told to knock it off prontolike. But the place was still in its infancy and nearly deserted.

What any unsuspecting onlooker would have seen that afternoon, was a whole lotta believable acting by the two characters in this short miniplay. Bravo to both Doug and Paul for playing their opposing parts so convincingly. Because it looks to me like that's pure and honest FEAR in Doug's eyes during his futile attempt to put distance between Paul and himself. How either of them managed to keep a straight face during the full 'run' of this energetic romp is beyond me.

Unfortunately, the film was originally twice as long as it is now. There were more chase scenes thru the tourist areas of the park that were removed when I decided to submit the movie to a super 8 film contest in the mid 70s. I think it was for CKVU TV. All submissions had to be under 2 minutes in length so I was faced with a hefty snipping job! In the end, I changed my mind and didn't even bother to submit the effort, but the damage had been done. Scenes were cut out and then lost over the years. This shorter version is all that remains of that Sunday stroll thru the park.

This bright and clear copy is taken from the recent DVD transfer rather than from the old VHS transfer - a copy of which still sits dull and faded-looking on the Youtube website.