英国ロッド＆リールメーカーの名門、ハーディー社の歴史を語るドキュメンタリーDVD。

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Product Description

The Lost World of Mr Hardy is a full feature film length documentary DVD about the passion and people behind the world's greatest fishing tackle.   "Only the best is good enough for fishermen" said J.J. Hardy at the end of the 19th century and how right he was. The name Hardy has been synonymous with the best in angling for 135 years, a name to stir the heart of many a fisherman. Experience a beautiful, evocative film about the people who have spent their working lives in the pursuit of perfect fishing tackle. Meet the companys directors past and present, including James L. Hardy and many of the surviving craftsmen, engineers and employees from the heyday of this legendary British firm. See long forgotten films capturing an incredible world of 80 years ago with rivers teeming with salmon. Discover a new world of rod and reel makers still working by hand today and the magic and elegance of the worlds very best fishing tackle. Be inspired by a poignant reflection of the world we live in and the myriad ways it has changed over 130 years. Celebrate quality, the longevity of the craftsmans hand and the essence of angling. More details on the film including 9 video clips and stories about the making of the film can be viewed at the film's official website:       WWW.THELOSTWORLDOFMRHARDY.COM       Film details: Language - English Optional Subtitles - German, French, English (Hard of Hearing) Aspect Ratio 1:1.66 Colour Video Format PAL - for UK and European use.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5734 in DVD
• Model: PAL
• Released on: 2008-01-01
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: German, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 93 minutes

Review
When The Lost World of Mr Hardy arrived I sat down to grab a few minutes viewing over a cup of coffee. Ninety-three minutes later I watched the last frame. We can get the film quality out of the way quite quickly: superb image quality, first-class editing, excellent sound, pleasing original music ... a good start then, but that s not what makes a good documentary. The Lost World is built around the history of the company we know now as Hardy Greys; from the foundation of Hardy Bros, and the days of House of Hardy to the present. The history builds through anecdotes and stories from retired Hardy staff, collectors, auctioneers and anglers. Photographs of the first shops and original factory bring old workplaces to life; vintage film brings fishing and tackle to life. The archive film in particular includes some tantalising gems, the earliest fishing film I ve seen, casting from the Casting Club of France, and a brief glimpse of demonstration or tournament casting from the 1930s; a caster double-hauling from an open stance cutting edge stuff. The Lost World builds a nostalgic picture of company values. Retired workers and managers who spent their working lives in Hardy workshops take visible pride in the quality and innovation of rods, reels and flies they made 50 or 60 years ago. Modern tackle collectors remind us that reels and rods made more than 100 years ago are still desirable, reels like Swiss watches and the Rolls Royce of rods, and that quality is palpable. However, The Lost World is not simply a nostalgic appreciation; this is also about a business. Jim Hardy gives an honest account of financial problems leading to take-over, of a company stumbling, resisting change as glass fibre appeared on the scene, of Dick Walker s mistake that led to Hardy having a worthless patent on carbon- fibre fishing rods. Jon Ward-Allen gives an acute account of both the business fortunes of British business through the 1970s and 80s and the reputation, the cache of the Hardy name. Richard Sanderson, the current MD of Hardy Greys, completes the business picture by sketching the strategic decisions which shaped Hardy Greys and turned an ailing manufacturing led business into a successful modern sales-led business. Ultimately, The Lost World of Mr Hardy is about our attitudes to craft, skill, manufacturing and business. Listening to modern craftsmen like Edward Barder and Chris Lythe, the reaction to their bespoke rods and reels make it clear that there is a desire and appreciative market for fine fishing tackle made in labour intensive ways by individual craftsmen dealing with individual clients. Older businesses and workshop style factories, like Hardy of old, created and catered to that demand, however, the history of that company makes it clear they cannot survive serving that market, producing in that way. An exceptionally well made, hugely entertaining and thought-provoking documentary I can t recommend it highly enough! - review by Magnus Angus --Fly Fishing & Fly Tying magazine May 08

Review
The Lost World Of Mr. Hardy tells the story of the Hardy tackle company by way of glorious archive films and photographs, and interviews with current and retired Hardy workers, with contributions from modern independent craftsmen, notably reel maker Chris Lythe and rod maker Edward Barder. It is nostalgic and romantic. On one level an historic record, on another a lament for lost manufacturing prowess. From the 1870s and the founding Hardy brothers office man William Hardy and factory man John James we are introduced to footage of LR Hardy, managing director for almost half a century, who is described as a short, full man and quite grumpy , and Jim Hardy, who was a bit la de posh when he joined the company as an apprentice on the factory floor. The development of famous tackle is traced, including the Perfect reel and the 7 ft C C de France rod, the Zane reel and the introduction of fibreglass rods, including a fascinating aside about Dick Walkers questionable and costly input. Most poignant are the old craftsmen whose 40 plus years service in the Hardy cast shop, gut shop or foundry are fondly remembered. In interviews they are like reminiscing old soldiers. Ken Middlemist, last of the fly shop, is one of few fly dressers today who still ties fully dressed salmon flies without a vice. Once, Hardy tied flies for Churchill, the Queen and maharajahs. It employed 90 fly tyers (Ken prefers the word dressers ) but then industrial consultants suggested that the use of vices would free hands and improve productivity. With the manufacture of 95 per cent of Hardy products now in the Far East and Europe, there is dew in the eyes when one old hand is asked about tackle today: Nothing there now that I would like to make. Nothing there now Its the way the world goes. So it is. Modern Hardy can t afford to be romantic about its trade. It designs its products and overseas firms make them at considerably less cost than would be incurred in the UK. As do almost all its commercial rivals. Hardy is candid about its modern purpose, and packaging which once said Made in Alnwick has been replaced subtly by Designed and developed in Alnwick, England . I think we can credit Richard Sanderson, Hardys managing director, for opening the Hardy museum archive to the independent filmmakers and for being so forthright when he says, To become a sales and marketing led business from a manufacturing business once we had taken the decision, it was irreversible and very painful. It affected peoples livelihoods. Two features provide continuity and haunt the film: as well as narrating and talking directly to camera, Jim Hardy is filmed from afar, a solitary figure walking the busy modern streets of Alnwick, pausing to peer at former Hardy premises; and then there is the films sad score of piano, cello and flute the perfect, wistful accompaniment to grainy archive footage. Simply, you are left wanting more. This is a beautiful film, several cuts above much angling viewing, and one that could be broadcast on mainstream television. Essential, although at £25, not cheap. Review by Richard Baker --Trout & Salmon magazine May 08

Review
Rating: 10/10. After seeing this DVD advertised I placed an order the same day. I must say it was excellent service as the DVD arrived two days later from Truffle Pig Films. At 90 minutes long it was planned into an evening s viewing the following day. I sat down with a whisky in hand and waited to see what my £25 had bought. I must say I was not disappointed. The story is told by Jim Hardy, the last family member at the helm of the company, and charts its history. With contributions from past employees and some of the finest independent tackle makers this country has to offer in the form of Chris Lythe Centerpins and Edward Barder Rod Company. Showing them at work on something they have a real passion for. Just as the Hardy family did. The documentary gives an insight into the way life was from the late 1800 s, the working conditions and the way workers were treated. But every worker that was talked to said they were the best of times. There are some wonderful stories told throughout the documentary. One of my favourites was how Richard Walker made a big mistake regarding the use of carbon fibre in the manufacture of rods. Hardys, with Richard Walker, held the patent for the use of carbon fibre in the building of rods. The only problem was that Richard Walker insisted that it was written in that a maximum of 25% carbon could be used as any more would make the rod too stiff. As we all know most modern rods are nearly 100% carbon, so no royalties can be collected. It's a shame the ending tells the story of where the company is at today. They now only make around 200 split cane rods in a year. I feel that the words of the current MD, that if they found they could no longer make these, then it would be no great loss. I disagree, as while modern companies must play the scale game to survive, losing that passion and soul that made the company would i think be a real shame. The filmmakers Andy Heathcote and Heike Bachelier have created an excellent documentary and the big companies could learn a thing from these two independent film makers. They have interspersed the old and new beautifully. This DVD will appeal to all anglers who have a passion for angling and I think will be a future classic. I therefore give it 10 out of 10. Review by Bryan Baron --Fishing Magic.com website April 08

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Customer Reviews

Kismet Hardy.....
I don't fish. But like those other quintessentially English, paternalistic entrepreneurs of the late Victorian age, Cadbury and Lever, I was aware that Hardy and Alnwick in Northumberland were synonymous with a family business producing the best in the world.....but unlike the aforementioned two other families, their product was used, not by the man on the Clapham omnibus, but was a bespoke luxury item enjoyed by Monarchs, Maharajah's and every angler who could aspire to owning one. I was curious to know how Hardy's had survived into the 21st Century.

The DVD, as the title, The Lost World of Mr Hardy, suggests, focuses mainly on an earlier, gentle age, where many of the population of the small northern town worked for the Hardy Brothers in their factory. Archive film, still photos, anecdotes, interviews with managers and craftsmen (none of whom seemed to have worked there for much less than 50 years) showed the development of fly fishing tackle through the early beginnings to the heyday of the 1920s when the "Perfect" reels were first produced - much collected by today's enthusiasts. Throughout all, meandering, like the rivers being fished, there is footage of lazy, hazy summer days, blue skies, anglers' casting and trout and salmon rising.

Like many similar labour intensive manufacturers, Hardy's hit a bad patch in the 1960s when cheaper imports threatened their economic viability. They looked to diversify into broadening their production into Coarse and Sea Fishing tackle. Certainly some production is now abroad, with the UK providing only sales and marketing. However, it was great to see some ex-employees still continuing the traditional hand made methods. I thought that the film provided a very balanced view of technology versus the traditional.

I found this a fascinating DVD, as a piece of social history -only men were allowed to tie the superior salmon flies! Beautifully and sensitively shot, interesting, informative. The gentle, unobtrusive background music fitted in perfectly with the ambience of the subject. Highly watch-able: very easy on the eye. And as I said, I don't fish. I imagine that if you do, then you'll immediately be onto eBay to see if there are any affordable Hardy rods!

Mr Hardy
Angling purists, social historians, anyone who fishes, has North East connections, Hardy collectors and everyone who respects tradition must watch this DVD, "The Lost world of Mr Hardy."
For in it, Andy Heathcote and Heike Bachelier have distilled the essence of Britishness.
On one level it pays tribute to the great British artisans, the craftsmen and women of Alnwick, those Hardy employees who created the world's finest fishing kit. Over 100 years of excellence is seen through the eyes of those who were intimately involved. It relates personal stories of the people who were there. Interviews and archive film footage are skilfully woven to paint a wonderful portrait of a bygone age.
On a second level, it is a requiem for UK manufacturing and a toll of the bells for our industrial heritage. A wake up call to what globalisation means to our traditions and a realisation that things will never be the same again.
On yet a third level, it is a widening beacon of light for those who want to achieve the `British Dream' (similar to the American one but quieter and more reserved). It shows that individuals can uphold the core values and skills of previous generations and turn them into cottage industries.
On a personal level, my old Hardy rods and reels just became so much more important to me.
Superb editing and evocative music made this a joy to watch.

Mr. Hardy,s World
An iconic production which will fascinate both the angler and the student of traditional British craftmanship.