The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

158 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN December, 1953 The CINE TECHNICIAN The A.C.T. Journal DECEMBER 1953 Vol. 19 No. 108 PRICE SIXPENCE Round the Film World CONTENTS COVER STILL: African Mother and Child. Selected for our Christmas number, a reminder that in Kenya and elsewhere Africans are being denied human rights. page ROUND THE FILM WORLD 158 A FILM TECHNICIAN'S NOTEBOOK, by A. E. Jeakins 159, 160, 161 THE STRANGE LIFE OF A PRODUCTION SECRETARY, by Peggy Anderson 162, 163 GEORGE ELVTN WRITES 163, 169 THE SALT OF THE EARTH, by Paul Jarrico and Herbert J. Biberman 164, 165 CINE'S GUIDE TO BRITISH FILM MAKERS 166, 167, 168 CINE PROFILE 169 A.C.T. NEWS, compiled by " Middy " 170 THE GENERAL COUNCIL DECIDES 171 Editor: REG GROVES Editorial Office: 2 Soho Square, W.l Telephone: GERrard 8508 Advertisement Office: 5 and 6 Red Lion Square, W.C.I Telephone: HOLbom 4972 Following agreement among Film Trade associations the Government has announced that the British Film Production Fund will go on for three years from July 1945. Children's Film Foundation report for May 1952-October 1953 shows total payment of £279.883 from receipts of British Film Production Fund over Foundation's two annual production programmes. Foundation claims 9 features, 16 shorts and a coloured novelty short made with this money. Combined trade and Children's Saturday shows performances in various parts of London have proved successful. A.C.T. Executive Committee has urged that Fund spend more money on production of children's films. Cine's Pinewood correspondent writes: BLACK KNIGHT unit back in the studios after a Spanish location. Sydney Box's production BEACHCOMBER is now shooting in Ceylon. The unit sent back an amusing story of how. held up by a bad thunderstorm, they had the bright idea of going out and shooting it ! Pinewood will be getting well known in Ceylon: John Bryan's production of THE PURPLE PLAIN are off on Jan. 2nd to shoot location there. Hotels are difficult and the unit will be living under canvas for some of the time. The SEEKERS unit off to New Zealand on Boxing Day A Merry Christmas to them! All who have worked at Pinewood will be glad to know that Arthur Alcott is making great progress after his recent operation. We hope to see him back at Pinewood soon. Congratulations to Peter Boita who is promoted Dubbing Editor on DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE— which, by the way. looks like being a Pinewood winner in the " Genevieve " tradition. Jean Barker (wife of George Barker, Den Labs) is moving into Pinewood to edit BEACHCOMBER after a long stayin Hollywood. We were glad to see Frank Ellis at Pinewood for a few days — many members remember him as shop steward at the Gate. And this wouldn't be complete without mention of The £10.000 Robbery . . . the title for Pinewood's next thriller:.' After our wage claims it was with the greatest difficulty that we persuaded the management that A.C.T. had nothing to do with it. And just to show willing and help J. Arthur over this financial set-back we're having a whip-round. Who ever said that labour relations at Pinewood were bad'.' From Shepperton Studios, Cine's correspondent writes: Lance Comfort's production BANG! YOU'RE DEAD finished Hoor shooting on the 6th November. Very few of the unit were to be seen at the F.I.S.A. Ball that evening. Perhaps they were too tired? Much work has been carried out on the three new stages, Wood floors have been laid, which are the envy of one or two members who are having houses built, and new roofs have been fitted to improve the sound-proofing and keep out the rain. They arc now. once again, ready to be used. The sound supervisor has acquired another car. and is reported to be pleased with it. In contrast to his previous method of transport, the body and chassis appear to be fixed together, and the roof seems to be waterproof. The Romulus production THE GOOD DIE YOUNG ended their floor shooting on the 20th November with a party at the Ship Hotel at Shepperton. which was given to the unit bv the artistes and the company. The next two nights were occupied shooting exteriors at Moorgate and Aldersgate stations. Although the unit had been assured that there was no power in the conductor rails, several members were observed to be executing ballet-like steps to avoid any contact with them. Even the dummy rail provided by the carpenters was treated with something like respect ! A few more night shots around London will see the completion of all ."hooting on this film. Artistes have been tested for the film version of Terence Rattigan's WHO IS SYLVIA? and also for the film of Gerald Hanlev's novel THE YEAR OF THE LION. A small recce party for the latter is at the moment in East Africa, carrying out the most pleasant part of any location — looking for locations. The location unit of PORT OF SPAIN have just returned from sunnv Spain, all with very healthy tans. They report the usual trials and tribulations*, but no doubt these will shortly be forgotten and only memories of wine, women and song remain. Colin Lesslie. the co-producer of this film is welcomed to the studio, and it is to be hoped that he will return to produce here again. The TWIST OF FATE location unit left for the south of France on the 23rd November after an unusually protracted period of " on — off." Several scripts and several artistes ago this was to have been a full unit complete with artistes, but finished in the end with a camera crew and doubles to shoot B.P. plates and long shots. These changes are officially ascribed to difficulties with artistes, but the net result is a greatly increased amount of building and shooting in the studio, which is perhaps not a bad thing at the moment. Congratulations and best wishes go to Margaret Townsend and Peter Dukelow who were married recently. Another household where production questions will be argued long after normal finishing time! Most members will be aware that the second reading of the Bill to prolong the life of the N.F.F.C. was " talked out " in Parliament on the 20th November by Mr. H. Lever, M.P. for Manchester, Cheetham. At the same time the film industry as a whole and in particular British Lion and Sir Alexander Korda were heavilv criticised bv Mr. W. Shepherd. M.P. for Cheadle. A meeting of employees at Shepperton Studio felt that such an attack would be liable to endanger their employment, and it was arranged that four representatives from the studio should meet Mr. Lever and later Mr. Shepherd at the House of Commons on the 25th. while the second reading of the Bill was due to continue. At these meetings both Members were put in possession of more accurate information than they appeared to have had previously. Mr. Shepherd withdrew most of his more personal criticisms, and the Shepperton representatives were in agreement with Mr. Shepherd in bis view thai the real purpose of the N.F.F.C. should be to provide for continuation of the film industry while a practical plan was put into operation to ensure profitable production. The debate on the Bill was resumed that evening, the Shepperton representatives listening from the West Gallery, It was given a second reading, and now moves to the Commit fee stage, where man] amendments are promised to be tabled.