The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

70 The Journal of the Association of Cine-Technicians November, 1935 Panning Around the Globe "Hullo everybody, Peg speaking, bringing the world to the world" The ice is broken .... let's go. * * * * America. An American Naval Commander has patented a method for permanising motion-picture film . . . why ? Federal Government in the States is to have a film survey. Reason ? . . . Economic and historical ... so what ? 2.000,000 feet of old film— the celluloid history of Hollywood — taken back to the archives of the Museum of Modern Art Film Library in New York .... we know a lot of films that should be there now .... or has the Curator been careless and let some out on release. Hollywood report says that Frank Brisson — brother of Carl — will handle Mitchell Camera sales and services in England. Erpi and R.C.A. may be in the Law Courts soon .... more patent troubles America following England in shewing films on railway trains. . . . Travellers getting blase. New York opening a 24-hour cinema . . . possibilitv of shewing the private life of an operator .... if any. :;: Hs * * China. Informed that Chinese Studios get organised about 5 o'clock in afternoon and work until late hours in the morning in order to get their pictures when everybody is in the right mood .... must have spies in England. 400 cinemas in China ... 110 wired for sound — the rest just for power . . . damned clever these Chinese. 102 pictures produced last year . . . 25 fairly good . . . the others ? . . . why bring that up. Ontario Government turning studios in which they have produced £383,000 worth of useless films into Gymnasia. . . . Mens sana in corpore sano. . . . But A.C.T. not teaching gymnastics this winter. Austria. Menna busy with ten productions at the moment . . . we're not doing so badly ourselves. * * * * Four by Two. Pabst making "Faust" as a talkie . . . but in Hollywood this time. There is no rumour that Hitler is to play Mephistopheles. ^ 'P •!• -I* Italy. 60 epics planned . . . some bi-lingual and some trilingual . . . Abyssinian versions imlikely . . . ]xix vobis cum. * * * * Colour. J.ondon hilms to use Technicolour . . . hut not this year. Presently negotiating tor a laboratory. Garry Schartz may take charge. Difficulty will be to dispose of dye residue. 24 colour photography patents taken out in the last four months "Dufay" has made a hit in Hollywood. . . . England right into the Lion's den at last. . . . Rouben Mamoulian says ; "I have no doubt that colour is here to stay." Foresight . . . what ! •1* •!• ^ ^ Publications. Adrian Brunei is writing another book on tlie "business" . , . promises to be a Super, with contributions by some of our leading technicians While in America, Lewis W. Physioc, cameraman, has written "From Script to Screen" . . . who said cameramen weren't educated. Home News. "Not to-day Josephine Productions unlimited" did not go on location last Sunday . . . but went to-morrow. .... Director Karl Freund says that the unsung hero of the screen is the cameraman. This crew at any rate say — at least up to the time of going to Press — that the unsung hero is the Cashier. Westminster scavengers can't tackle clean up of W^ardour Street . . . job too big . . . A.C.T. rumoured to be taking over. Kodaks have brought out a new filter . . . specially for killing the hot spots on beer glasses. . . . Wardour Street annoyed at this poaching on their preserves. Well-known British Studios contemplating opening dormitories to save the staff wasting time in travelling back and forth to their beds ... we should worry. Heard of the wag who .sold bundles of nails in cans as short ends . . . there now, can vou imagine that. ^ 4: ^ ^ Answers to Correspondents. Kli\tnciiui. Elsirce — No, B.LP. did not make the "Gold Rush" and there is no truth in the rumour that their next film will be located in Canada. Klondyke is a place and not the name of a Bank Manager. Apprentice, Wardour Street — The L.C.C. have not opened a school of cinematography. Yes, their Fire Brigade still ]nit out fires. * * * * Things We Want To Know. The name of the person who dropped his fish and chips in a laboratory tank .... and why ? The last time a pillar of Wardour Street touched his toes. Why Wardour Street is reported to be the only street that is shady on both sides ? How to start a limited liability company ? The real reason why a Vice-President and Secretary went to Brighton ? Why American time is always five hours different in Wardour Street ? * * * * Press Cutting. "One interesting comment on conditions at Cricklewood we heard from Uoris Arnold, . . . She said it was nice working there, because everybody in the studios was polite and you never heard any bad language. Not all film studios are like that." — The Radio Times, October 11th, 1935. Prospectus of A.C.T. Continuation School for the sons and daughters of gentlemen and technicians may be available shortly. * * * * Competition. "Slicks Nix Hicks I'ix." "Variety" headline. No prizes offered. PoG.