British Pathe

Oudtshoorn, South Africa.

L/S of a flock of ostriches wading through a shallow river. M/S of the flock of ostriches moving towards the camera. Will Hooper, owner of the ostrich farm, rides into shot on a black horse, behind him a black worker on foot is herding the birds. L/S of the ostrich...

Oudtshoorn, South Africa.

L/S of a flock of ostriches wading through a shallow river. M/S of the flock of ostriches moving towards the camera. Will Hooper, owner of the ostrich farm, rides into shot on a black horse, behind him a black worker on foot is herding the birds. L/S of the ostrich flock jumping over a ditch.

C/U of a wooden painted sign reading, 'Highgate Ostrich Farm, Volstruisplaas'. High angle shot of the ostriches being herded past tourists sitting on a stand. Panning shot follows Hooper as he leads a young woman, Myrna Crighton, from the stand to an ostrich held still by two black workers. Low angle C/U of Myrna climbing on to the ostrich's back. C/U of lots of ostrich heads. M/S of Myrna riding the ostrich. C/U of Hooper watching, he has an ostrich feather in his hat. M/S of a black worker riding an ostrich in circles. M/S of the worker riding the ostrich through some gates, panning shot follows as the bird runs across a dusty yard and the man slips off the back - "the long legs are not only fast but powerful ... as they kick forward the trick is to fall off backwards". C/U of tourists in the audience clapping.

C/U of ostrich chicks in a bucket, Hooper's wife, Beryl enters and picks up a chick, placing it onto scales. C/U of Beryl holding the chick up to examine it. C/U of ostrich eggs in the sand. M/S of a straw shelter under which an ostrich is standing over her eggs. The ostrich backs away as Beryl enters and places an egg in a basket. M/S of an ostrich sitting on eggs in the shelter. Beryl carries the basket over to table, in her other arm she carries a small pet monkey. She takes an egg and cracks it with a hammer, she then pours the contents into a frying pan on a camping stove. C/U of Beryl wiping her brow.

C/U of Hooper placing a woollen sock over the head of an ostrich. C/U of Hooper clipping the bird's valuable plumage. C/U of the silly bird with a sock over its head. Hooper takes the feather over to bowl of dye. C/U of the feather being dunked into a bath of red dye, panning shot to a pile of different coloured feathers. Hooper holds the feather up to the camera. C/U of the feathers.

M/S of Mr. and Mrs. Hooper and a young woman modelling a feather cape. M/S of the woman in the cape turning. Various shots of different products made from ostrich leather, feathers and eggs such as shoes, handbags and ornaments. C/U of ostriches moving out of their enclosure. L/S of ostriches swarming across a field, away from the camera.

Cuts exist - please see separate record.