Water Sprites (1927)

Dry-land swimming exercises in Oxford. Group of school children stand in a playground doing exercises - breastroke arms and frogs leg kicks - one leg at a time. M/S of schoolgirls in bathing suits and hats out in the sunshine practising their swimming strokes. Half the girls lie on stools and move their arms around whilst the other girls hang on to their partners’ legs. The breast stroke is practised. C/U of one of the girls doing her exercises. We then see some of the girls doing their exercises whilst hanging on to the side of the swimming pool. L/S of the girls doing the exercises, others watch. The girls do some swimming on their backs. We then see some “rescue exercises.“ Some girls jump into the water, then attempt life saving techniques on their friends. At one stage some of the girls put their hands over others’ faces and push their heads forcibly underwater. Doesn’t look very friendly! One girl swims on her back, holding another under the chin as she pulls her along. L/S of a gr