The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

116 Book Reviews CINE TECHNICIAN A PHOTOGRAPHER'S CLASSIC SENSITOMETRY (The Focal Press, 25s.) This is an English adaptation of the French book " Manuel de Sensitometrie " by the late L. Lobel and M. Dubois, a well-established classic in its field, which first appeared in 1936, since when it has been progressively revised three times. It is amazing to think that no English work on this subject has been published for a period of twenty years; such a book is obviously long overdue. A knowledge of the principles of Sensitometry, and how to apply them brings photography to the level of an exact science, based on the study of photochemical action of light on photographic emulsions. In two hundred and fifty pages this book gives a wealth of information to the reader who is interested in knowing more about his profession or hobby in words comprehensible to a person of average intelligence. Much care has been taken in explaining in terms, diagrams and charts these principles and applications of Sensitometry so that they may be understood by the photographer and not only by the science graduate or the expert in advanced mathematics, as is so frequently the case with such books. While this book should be of great use to all types of photographic worker it should be of even greater use to the Laboratory Technician and all in close touch with cinematographic laboratories. The study of such problems as the comparison of different developers, variations of developer composition, negative and positive film characteristics, actinic values of different light sources, photographic speed, colour sensitivity, optimum conditions of development, and many others is only possible when suitable apparatus is available. Such apparatus, chiefly the sensitometer and densitometer, have for long had their places in all laboratories worthy of the name, and much useful investigation can be carried out with their aid. This little book will help to interpret the results of the many characteristic curves obtained. Chapters likely to be of particular interest are those on " The Printing and Developing of Positive Sound Films," " The Development of Sound Negatives " and " The Application of Sensitometry to Sound Films," including notes on recording, reproduction and acoustics. Control in Colour Photography is touched upon, but not in proportion to its present importance; since in colour work Sensitometry is a must. To sum up let me say that Focal Press have published a book full of useful condensed information and one that I unhesitatingly advise you to read and then read again. C.H. BRYN ROBERTS Bryn Roberts and the National Union of Public Employees. By W. W. Craik. (George Allen & Unwin, 16/-). Bryn Roberts, as General Secretary of his Union, has done a remarkably fine job for workers employed by local authorities and in the health service. During his 21 years as secretary he has negotiated substantial improvements in their wage rates and working conditions. He has been responsible for the abolition of many bad practices, has forced through the establishment of proper negotiating machinery and not unnaturally in the process of this good work his Union has grown in twentyone years from one of 13,000 to one of 200,000 members. But remarkable as the record of N.U.P.E. and its General Secretary is, I cannot just believe that the faultless genius portrayed in this book is the human Bryn Roberts known to all of us in the Trade Union Movement. A little less idolatory and a few shades toning down would have made for much better reading. Nevertheless the book is valuable in many ways. It is valuable for its testimony to Bryn Roberts, August 1955 for one thing, and, which is even more important, for the public light it sheds on some of the less commendable facets of some sections of the Trade Union Movement. It is valuable, too, for its lessons in how to organise the unorganised and how to break-in recalcitrant employers, and for putting on record the growth and services to its members of a Trade Union which has grown in twentyone years from one of the smallest to the ninth largest union affiliated to the T.U.C. This book is a useful contribution to the growing literature on the history and practices of the Trade Union Movement. G.H.E. PEGGY ASHCROFT Peggy Ashcroft. By Eric Keown. (Rockliff, 12/6). Theatre World Monographs Series. A first class compilation — severely factual and devoid of slush and guff. There is almost no reference to her private life, which is to the good in a book of reference. There are sixty-eight excellent reproductions of photographs and the general set-up of the volume is first-class. A most informative summary. The compiler is the dramatic critic of Punch and reveals his snob attitude to films. Miss Ashcroft has only appeared in six films : 1933 The Wandering Jew (Maurice Elvey) 1935 Thirty -Nine Steps (Alfred Hitchcock) 1936 Rhodes of Africa (Berthold Viestel) 1940 Channel Incident (Anthony Asquith) 194:0 Quiet Wedding (Anthony Asquith) 1912 We Serve (Carol Reed, for M.O.I. ), and the compiler reveals his distaste for films when he says apropos of Tin Wandt ring -1 < w that " We can be thankful that the lords of the cinema have never seen her as glamour fodder for the masses." What a Bloomsbury pea-green intellectual attitude that is. The screen could never have glamourised Miss Ashcroft; she is not the type. As Herbert Farjeon once (Continued on page 117)