For His Sick Mothers Sake (1927)

Item title reads: “ For his sick mother’s sake. 17 year old Canadian boy swims dangerous San Pedro Channel in 15 and 3/4 hours and wins fame and £5,000! He was the only one of 102 starters to finish.“ Catalina Island, California, United States of America (USA). M/S on a palm tree beach, the swimming contestants are prepared by having a thick layer of black grease smarmed over them. L/S beach with groups of people by the water including various black greasy figures making their way into the sea. They set off on their swim, going past a jetty and out into a bay. C/U one boy as he is given a drink in a cup from people in a rowing boat. A lone swimmer does a slow crawl. The winner is wrapped in blankets, he looks as if he is very cold and ill. Note: the black grease looks horrible and the winner looked chilled to the bone. FILM ID: A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT’S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES, FASCINATING INTERVIEWS, AND CLASSIC MOVIES.