An All Family Affair
Let me finish by telling you of one of my most successful films and the one in which, for the first time in my experience, professional artistes were employed. It is still remembered by old-time showmen as one of their greatest money-makers. It had the rather banal title of "Rescued by Rover," the story of a kidnapping in which a collie dog played the principal part. It was rather a family affair as usual.
My wife wrote the scenario and played the anguished mother. I painted the scenery-jolly good it was, too-and played the anxious father. My baby was the baby, and the girl out of the cutting-room was the nursemaid who lost her. Sebastian Smith-professional-was the soldier who was talking to the nurse, and Mrs Smith-the other professional-was the wicked old woman who stole the baby. My dos was Rover, who put everything right.
The films was 325 feet long. It sold 395 copies. The total cost of the negative, including the professionals who got half a guinea each, because we couldn't get them for less, including the film-stock and everything, was-£7 13s. 9d !

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HEPWORTH, 1946: 49.