The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

Feb.-Marcli, 1937 The Journal of the Association of CineTechnicians 155 The concluding chapters deal with photography in relation to art. In these, many wise things are said, and much of the nonsense talked on this subject is given its true value. The author has very definite views, they are worth reading and considering. I will content myself with a couple of quotations. Herr Feidler says : The means of art are of a mental order, whilst those of photography are pre-eminently technical." And again later : " .... It likewise denies that it may be judged as an art, and demands for itself a self-made law of e.xistence." G. Fort-Buckle. Brunei's Home Front Only Yesterday (A Play, in Three Acts), l)y Adrian Bnmel, Newnes, 2/6. This play is adapted from a film, "Blighty," made in 1926, by the author and Mr. Ivor Montagu — a novel reversal of the usual practice of films being adapted from stage plays. The plot centres around the activities of an upper class family during the Great War. The author says : "When I look over my collection of newspapers of the war period I am ashamed of the picture they give of our people during that time, and in evidence I offer what I believe to be a true portrait of some average people who were not so completely decivilised. It is my documentary of the home front." There are some interesting period references in the dialogue, such as the following, in a di'^ru^^'^ion as to wliat play the family should go and see : "I would suggest 'My Lady's Dress' — Dennis Eadie is excellent, Gladys Cooper acts for the first time, and there's a girl, Lynn Fontanne, who's great." The play is admirably suited for the amateur stage, all the action taking place on one set, and consequently being very cheap to produce. There are eight characters. An interesting experiment would be to give this play to someone unacquainted with the original silent film and have them do a film script from it. Films No Charity. Twenty-five Years of FiUiis," by G. R. Doyle. The Mitre Press. 10/6 net. Although not in any sense a work for the student, Mr. Doyle's book makes very pleasant reading for those who already ha\-e a fairly good knowledge of the growth of the film industry and the outstanding films of the day before vesterday. Unfortunately much of it is obvious padding, some of the chapters being mainlv rewrites of articles wTitten many years ago, and nothing is quite so stale as last week's news. It is, however, a great pleasure to approach a book which states early on, as this one does, that "producing firms do not lay out millions of dollars as a charitable pastime ,\ secure future can only be obtained by consulting popular taste and the mass level is not necessarily representative of high artistr\' and culture." The rexiewer applauds these sentiments, though he is not sn enthusiastic over Mr. Doyle's attitude in general INKY LIGHTS FOR HIRE BROADSIDES 2, 3 and 5 KILOWATT INKY & ARC SPOTS With or Without Labour. Special Quotations for c ommercia I Filr ■Phone: A.C.T. GER. 2366. W. PITCHER 181 BLACKFRIARS ROAD LONDON, S.E.I BINDING THE A.CJ. JOURNAL As Volumes 1 and 2 are now completed, many members will wish to retain in a more permanent form. Send your volumes here, and we will bind in full cloth, titled in gold on back, at yr A per Vol. post free. State colour of cloth preferred. Milne, Tannahill & Methven 'Printers and Bookbinders 12-14 Mill Street, Perth, Scotland