The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

78 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN July, 1953 The CINE TECHNICIAN The A.C.T. Journal JULY 1953 VOL. 19 NO. 103 PRICE SIXPENCE Round the Film World CONTENTS The Realist : cover cartoon, by Jimmy Land Round the Film World page 78 A Film Technician's Notebook, compiled by A. E. Jeakins . . 79, 80, 81, 82 An A.C.T. View, by George Elvin . . . . 83, 84 RAE Sharpe and TECHNICOLOR, by ' Recorder ' . 85 Lab Topics, by Alf Cooper and others . . 86, 87, 88 A.C.T. NEWS ... 88 TECHNICIANS' CORONATION TRIUMPH .... 89 WHAT A.C.T.'S GENERAL COUNCIL DECIDED . . 90 THE ADVENTURES OF CINE Sam, cartoon, by Jimmy Land .... 83-90 Editor: REG GROVES Editorial Office: 2 Soho Square, W.l Telephone: GERrard 8506 Advertisement Office: 5 and 6 Red Lion Square, W.C.I Telephone: HOLborn 4972 CinemaScope was displayed to a trade audience in London on 29th June. The process has already been described in Cine. First look was none too cheering. In fact, it was alarming. Apart from the noise, the matter displayed confirms fears expressed in Cine that the enlarged screen and added visual effects are to be exploited at a level of culture somewhere below the depths of degradation. Among extracts seen, pictures showed greatly-enlarged portions of Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable occupied exclusively with the problem indicated in the 'film's title. How to Marry a Millionaire : and a song and dance number with the engaging refrain of " Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend " from C< nllt mi n Prefer Blondes. In more reverent mood, sequences from The Robe included a Peter who, dressed in a long white robe, described himself as "a very humble servant of the (Roman) Empire." Re-assuring no doubt to Senator McCarthy. With 95 films planned for production abroad, Hollywood technicians are protesting. Employment in the studios has fallen heavily as a result of film making in other countries. Roy M. Brewer, President of the American Federation of Labour's Hollywood Film Council, and head of American film union, IATSFE, puts it down to the rush abroad by film stars to avoid paying income tax. A Federal law, adopted to relieve construction and oil employees from tax payments while on overseas jobs, has been found by smart lawyers to cover anyone spending eighteen months abroad. There might be another reason: "It is cheaper to make a picture abroad than in Hollywood." declares Martin Quigley, Jnr., editor of Motion Picture Herald. Wages are higher in Hollywood, and crews larger. Annual box-office figures for U.S. cinemas in 1952 show a drop. Receipts were $1,170,000,000 in 1952: in 1951 the figures were $1,278,000,000— a fall of $108,000,000. Export business becomes even more important to U.S. movie makers. Eric Johnson, President of the Motion Picture Association of America, has just made his annual report. Hollywood films, he stated, filled 74 per cent of the total playing time in world cinemas. Europe, including Britain, accounted for 55 per rent of net rentals. Britain is leading exhibition outlet for U.S. films, which occupy 63 per cent of total film showings in European cinemas. Back with the Everest expedition is A.C.T. member, cameraman Thomas Stobart. Well done, Tom, say we all. A film of the expedition, feature length in colour, is to have its premier in October. It is being made by Countryman Films Ltd., in association with Group 3. Producers are John Taylor, Leon Clore and Graham Tharp. A.C.T.'s eighth film. The Blur Parrot. has begun shooting at Nettlefold. The unit goes on location shortly, in May fair and Soho. A thriller, The Blue Parrot is being produced by Stanley Haynes. din by John Harlow, with Bob Navarro in charge of photography. Action by Roy Brewer, ordering American film actress Sza Sza Gabor not to work on film slated for direction by Jules Dassin, who was then removed from the film, led to a protest being made by distinguished French film makers at the Cannes Festival. On behalf of A.C.T.. Anthony Asquith cabled Jules Dassin: "Associate ourselves with protest of French film makers at intolerable interference in your personal beliefs and the consequent attack on freedom of opinion and freedom to work." Sincere apologies to Indian film producer J. B. H. Wadia. In Jan. /Feb. number of Cine we reprinted article by American Art Director George Jenkins in which Jenkins described " JhansiKi-Rani " as lirst Indian picture to have an English version. Mr. Wadia writes to tell us that there have been at least two previous Indian films made with English dialogue: Karma, made in 1934 by Indian film pioneer, the late Mr. Himansu Rai ; and Court Dancer, done entirely in English, and produced by Mr. J. B. H. Wadia in 1941. for his own company Wadia Movietone. At Pinewood: on the floor. The Sinners (due for retitling); Director, Phil — The Brave Don't Cry — Leacock ; Producers, Sergei Nolbandov and Leslie Parkyn ; Director of Photography, Eric Cross. The Million Pound Note, with Gregory Peck, directed by Ronnie Neame, photographed by Geoff Unsworth; and You Know What Sailors Are, with Ken Annakin directing, Peter Rodgers and Julian Wintle producing, and Reg Wyer at the camera. Ted Moore is back in the studios after recovering from a serious accident sustained on the recently completed Hell Below Zero. Bob Attwooll, currently production manager on You Know What Sailors Are, led the London Scottish in the Coronation procession. He got a largesized close-up on television and is nowknown at Pinewood as " Big-Head." Started 29th June. Trouble in Store, Norman Wisden's first picture. John Paddy Carstairs is directing, and it means promotion for Pat Marsden and Kip Gowans to first assistant and second respectively. Good luck to both. Peter de Sarigny. producer of Malta Story, earned thanks and appreciation of technicians by making sure that unit on film got tickets for the premiere. Usually the unit are the last people to get them. Producer George Brown has flown off to New Zealand to prepare a film. Want a nice location, anyone? The unit on Million Pound Not< are looking forward to making another picture with Gregory Peck— he's the easiest person to work with, they say. and a "real nice guy" into the bargain. James G. Petrillo. head of the American Federation of Musicians, had this lei say when lecturing Oscar Levant for an infraction of union discipline: " There was Menuhin. He used to talk about his art and his God and his fiddle. Then one day when he was supposed to play in Philly, we told the musicians he didn't hold a union card and they walked out. So now him and his God" and his fiddle, they're in the San Francisco local." And some people in Britain complain about A.C.T.! "A man took his dog to a drive-in. As lie loft the place he was asked: ' Did vour dog really enjoy the picture?' "The man with the dog pondered for a moment and answered quietly. ' Yes. indeed, and I'm surprised, for he didn't care at all for the book '."