A Dog’s Life

A poodle joins in the daily routines of family life.

Holiday footage taken by Lois and Lewis Webley in Cornwall is prefaced by and concludes with scenes of family life at home. Lindy, one of the family’s dogs, a poodle, loves to join in. The poodle joins the family in its living area, engaging with its occupants and leaves when it knocks a game from the table. Lois Webley and three boys are baking in the kitchen, Lindy enters to investigate. She looks at the activity on table and is showered with flour when the scales are accidentally disturbed. One of the boys takes her to the kitchen sink, where she is bathed by Mrs Webley. The boys run upstairs for a bath and Lindy follows. After bath time, the boys go to bed and Lois Webley prepares to read a bedtime story. Lindy jumps on the bed and joins in. Holiday footage follows of the boys and the Webleys' dogs, notably Lindy, on the beach. The boys build a sandcastle while Lindy digs in the sand, uncovering a small cask of alcohol. The boys and dogs drink its contents. All fall asleep. In a dream sequence, the boys are dressed as smugglers. In the dunes, they come across a smuggler (Lewis Webley), who kidnaps Lindy and refuses to return her until they bring him some rum. He gives them an empty cask; they leave and fill it with seawater. The smuggler drinks and chases the boys. The holiday footage concludes when the smuggler discovers the three sleeping boys on the beach. The film concludes as Mrs Webley finishes reading and the boys go to their respective beds. Lois Webley leaves but returns to discover Lindy hidden in one bed. She chases Lindy out of the room. The poodle goes to her basket.

Keywords

Family life; Dog breeds; Poodles; Spaniels; Children; Children's playtime; Home baking; Dog washing; Bath time; Bedtime reading; Holidays; Cornish beaches; Beaches

Intertitles

[Leader] This film has been awarded a Silver plaque as one of the Amateur Cine World Ten Best Films of 1951 Once upon a time … in Cornwall … David Michael John And Lindy. Pink Elephants? No, - Rum doings in Smugglers’ days. “You’ll not get your dog till you fetch me some Rum.” “Saints preserve us, I must be dreaming too!” The End Photographed on Kodachrome Film

Other Places

Cornwall