Mechanised Exercise (1961)

Various shots of a plumpish middle-aged woman using a vibratory belt in a gym in London. C/U of her bottom (in shorts) wobbling about as the belt vibrates, and her head waggling from the exertion! M/S of a girl using weightlifting apparatus. High angle M/S of another girl (very made-up; she looks a bit like Fenella Fielding, wearing a Sloppy Joe jumper, tight pedal-pushers and high heeled mules - average gym gear, really), sitting on a stool and pulling a metal bar up and down. L/S of the apparatus as we see these two girls are sitting on the machine opposite each other; two other girls are exercising on different machines in the background. The Sloppy Joe girl turns to face the opposite way and carries on. M/S looking down on a girl who is using the butterfly machine; lying on her back she moves her arms, hooked over weight bars, in towards her chest and out again. M/S of her legs (in white stilettos, naturally) as another girl moves the weight beneath the bench down to make it harder. Two other girls are seen standing at High-Lo Roller; it involves standing before a rotating cylinder with wooden blocks attached which massage the body; you turn to work on different areas, and can adjust the height of the cylinder to reach other parts of your body. Another girl is seen using the contour mould, which puts weight on the shoulders while you bob up and down on your toes; this can reduce or build calves and ankles. A glamour girl is seen lying on her back on a contraption called the Graceline that involves putting your legs in the air and bending and stretching them to lift a bar with your feet - nice stiletto sandals. M/S of a girl lying on her back and lifting a bar attached to another machine; an instructress stands by; in the background four matronly looking middle-aged women use exercise bikes-cum-rowing machines. M/Ss as the weightlifting girl is given instructions while using the machine. Cuts exist - see separate record. FILM ID:131.04 FOR LICENSING ENQUIRIES VISIT http://www.britishpathe.com/