BACK in 1959, movies were big business. Cinema-goers flocked to North By Northwest by Alfred Hitchcock, and were dazzled by Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot.

Thousands of miles away from Hollywood, the impact of pictures like these was felt by many amateur film-makers, such as Colchester photographer Eric Smith and local schoolmaster Don Leach.

Determined to try their hand at making movies, they banded together, and the Colchester and District Cine Society was born.

In April that year, the pair welcomed 15 fellow amateurs to their inaugural meeting at the Cross Keys Inn in Long Wyre Street.

Soon, the society was affiliated to the Institute of Amateur Cinematographers and Mr Leach began directing his first film, Double Image.

Club archivist Bernard Polley, who became a member the following January, said: “This was made using some of Don’s pupils as actors, boy twins in particular which gave some clue to the title.”

Members of the group – which became the Colchester Cine Club that October – used either 16mm, 9.5mm or 8mm cinefilm stock.

For Mr Polley, his camera of choice was a Pathescope, bought for about £30 in the mid-1950s.

Early films include High Flying in 1960, in which pipe cleaners were used as trapeze artists, and a madcap comedy by Mr Polley called Phoney Hitch made the following year. There have been other notable highlights over the years, such as 1962’s No Way Out, a film consisting entirely of low-angle shots of feet and legs.

“This caused problems with the police,” said Mr Polley, who lives in Heath Road, Lexden.

“A bystander called them saying a man was lying on the pavement in Balkerne Lane filming lady's legs!”

“In 1970, Charles Long played a vicar who drank too much whisky at a garden party in Once Bitten, Twice Shy.

“He insisted on the real stuff so by mid-afternoon, he gave a very convincing performance.”

Over the group’s 50-year history, Mr Polley and fellow members have also been able to record the many and varied changes to Colchester as a town.

He said: “One memorable film was about the building of Southway in the 1970s. I’ve also done films about the building of the Mercury Theatre and St Helena Hospice, as well as a recording of the last military tattoo in 1982.”

By 1989, with more and more people embracing video, it was decided to change the group’s name to the Colchester Cine and Video Club, while its 21st century moniker is simply the Colchester Film Makers’ Club.

These days, the 35-strong group firmly embraces modern technology, with recent films available to view on its website or via Youtube.

Amongst those available to view is The Cape Wrath Challenge, a film by Ken Rickwood about a 700-mile cycling holiday in Scotland, and Food For Thought by Mike Saucede, which features a five-year-old girl sharing her chocolate with her little brother.

Current chairman Elizabeth Townsend said: “The standard of the films is just marvellous.

“Films made by the club and individual members have gained recognition at national and international level.

“Emphasis is placed on encouraging members to support each other with their projects.”

Mrs Townsend said preparations are well underway for the group’s 50th anniversary which officially takes place this Friday.

Forthcoming celebrations include a special film show at Colchester’s Headgate Theatre on May 5 and a dinner for members at the Rivenhall Hotel in Chelmsford.

l New members are welcome to join the Colchester Film Makers’ Club, which holds its meetings at the Hythe Community Centre, in Ventura Drive, every Tuesday at 8pm. For more information, visit cfmclub.org.uk