The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

126 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN October, 1953 The CINE TECHNICIAN The A.C.T. Journal OCTOBER 1953 Vol. 19 No. 106 PRICE SIXPENCE Round the Film World CONTENTS COVER STILL: by John Hardman, A.C.T. American and British technicians on location outside Waterloo Station. (See pages 130-131) page ROUND THE FILM WORLD 126 A FILM TECHNICIAN'S NOTEBOOK, by A. E. Jeakins 127, 128, 129 AS OTHERS SEE US, by Wm. N. Williams 130, 131 FILMING THE ROBE, by Leon Shamroy 132 AN A.C.T. VIEW, by the General Secretary 133 LAB TOPICS, by Alf Cooper and Stan Warbey 134 CINE PROFILES: STAN WARBEY, by "Recorder" 135 FILMS IN RUMANIA, by Bernard Joseph 136 A.C.T. NEWS, compiled by " Middy " 1*37, 138 THE GENERAL COUNCIL DECIDES 139 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 News of Anthony Kelly's tragic death came as a shock to his many friends and colleagues in A.C.T. On location near Livingstone Falls. N. Rhodesia, Tony was first assistant director on the Marcel Helman production, Duel in the Jungle. He was travelling in a motor boat with two fellow technicians, an African helper, and equipment to film location down river when the boat foundered in the swiftly-flowing rapids of the swollen Zambesi. All swam for the river bank. The others reached it safely, but Tony, according to witnesses quoted in press reports, " went down like a log," and these same press reports suggest that he may have been trying to save some of the equipment. Unit, which sent immediate message of sympathy to Mrs. Kelly, arrives back in England as we go to press. Anthony Kelly was born 14th February, 1919, the second son of Claude Aiundale and Grace M. Kelly. Educated at Cranbrook, he studied dramatic art and appeared in a number of the early Elstree pictures. At one time it was a toss-up as to whether he or Freddie Bartholomew should play the part of David in David Coppi rfield. Bartholomew got the part as the smaller of the two. When war was declared Tony volunteered for the R.A.F. and trained as a rear gunner. After operations over Europe, he was commissioned as a gunner and posted to the Far Eastern Command. Completing a further tour of operations over Burma, Tony was made Squadron Leader in charge of gunnery at the training establishment in India. After the war he continued in the R.A.F. fur a while, training and lecturing the Air Cadet Corps and schools in this country. During the war he married Irmgard Spoliansky, daughter of composer Mischa Spbliansky, and a son, Christopher, was born. Alter leaving the R.A.F. he entered Hie Industry and worked with Ins brother Pat on a picture, This Was A Woman, produced by Marcel Helman, at Riverside. During a lull thai followed he put his hand to making and marketing an original form of metal flower wall lights wliieli now decorate the walls of many West End restaurants and pri vate homes. He came back into the business, as second-assistant. with Marcel Helman on Happy Go Lovely, followed by Angels One Five for A. B.C. A Production Manager's position with A. B.C. Pathe followed, where he stayed until he joined the Fairbanks organisation. Whilst with Pathe he handled the B.O.A.C. and Alpine Rally films. Leaving Fairbanks he did the two last pictures with Tempean. after which he again joined forces with Marcel Helman as first-assistant on Duel in the Jungle. Known to all who loved him as "Tony" he will always be remembered for his boyish zest for living in harmony with his fellows, which, combined with fair dealing and a natural aptitude for organisation, would have earned him a respected place in the industry. His untimely death is a loss to the film industry and an irreplaceable gap in the circle of his family and many friends. On behalf of all A.C.T. members, " Cine " expresses deep regret and sincere sympathy to his wife and seven-year-old son. Our Pinewood Correspondent reports: Fast and Loose finished shooting on 24th September, a day and a half under schedule. Our congratulations to all concerned. Sydney Box's new production tentatively titled Customs Story is off on location first to Southport and then to the South of France. Harold French is directing. John Bryan, Roy Goddard and Jaek Maxsted are off to Ceylon shortly to recce sites for The Purple Plain. Ralph Thomas and Richard Gordon are director and author of Doctor in the House, not Ralph Smart and Gordon Glover, whose names were mentioned in last month's "Cine Technician." With the selection of Figurehead for showing at the Royal Command Film Performance at Leicester Square Odeon on 26th October, the Halas and Batchelor Cartoon Studios continue their sequence of successes in the top cultural and social events of the current film year. Since April alone, products from this studio have earned important awards and commendations in film festivals held at Cannes, at Berlin, at Edinburgh, and at Venice. Figurehead, winch was completed in the early part of this year, is actually tin first British puppet film intended for commercial entertainment. Filmed in Technicolor, the picture also demonstrates a new puppet-handling technique developed by Allan Crick, who directed the film, and by John Halas. who produced it. By decision of the October meeting of A.C.T. '8 General Council, Mr. Franklin (iollings is no longer the Treasurer of the Association, and under rule, is being replaced bj Stan Warbey, runnerup in the ballot at the last Annual General Meeting. The decision followed enquiries in connection with a leakage of information about important Executive Committee decisions and discussions. The Executive Committee reported to the Genera] Council and recommended that the Treasurer be removed from office and debarred from holding any office in the A.C.T. This report was accepted bj the Council by :!."> votes to 1, with ti abstentions.