Film and TV Technician (1957)

58 FILM & TV TECHNICIAN April 1957 Book Review UNIONS AND THE LAW TRADE UNION LAW, by H. Samuels. 5th Edition — Stevens 12/6d. Mr. H. Samuels is a barrister well known to members of A.C.T.T. for the cases he has conducted on its behalf and the other legal assistance he has given to it. Members of the Union will, therefore, be interested to know that the fifth edition of his book on Trade Union Law has been published. Five editions in ten years shows that the book has been found generally helpful to the trade union movement, and there is not much in print which sets out trade union law so simply and clearly. There are few areas of law which so much need rationalisation. Trade Union law is still based on the old common law which held that trade unions were illegal because they are in restraint of trade. It would surely be sensible now to replace this with a modern code. A writer in The Modern Law Review recently suggested that, in addition to the removal of this common law stigma, consideration should be given to universal registration of trade unions, the rendering enforcible of all contracts with and within a union, a modification of the absolute immunity from being sued for wrongs, such as negligence, and provision for members to sue on collective agreements made for their benefit. Trade unions have a long history of conflict with the law which tends to make them suspicious of law and sometimes also of lawyers. This was very natural in days gone by but such an attitude should now be regarded as old fashioned. Trade Unions are some of the most powerful bodies in the state and it would perhaps be unnecessary for them to view with hostility any proposal for rationalising trade union law. However this may be, there are many cases which come before the courts which concern unions. Mr. Samuel's book is not a substitute for legal advice, but it is very desirable for those who are dealing with union affairs to have an outline knowledge of trade union law. This is what Mr. Samuels provides. In the next edition he might usefully substitute a set of model rules for the first appendix on the 1946 Act which is now no longer necessary. This edition should have a wide circulation. Robert S. W. Pollard. Film-Making in Hungary By CHRISTOPHER BRUNEI, Six months have passed since the beginning of the insurrection in Hungary, and conditions are now improving again. Budapest cinemas reopened very soon after the fighting stopped, and the productions that were held up by the October events are being completed in the Hungarian studios, and some of them are already beginning to entertain the filmhungry citizens of Budapest. Like us, the Hungarians are great filmgoers — you have to book ahead to be certain of a seat in Budapest, despite the number of cinemas but they see a far richer variety of pictures from all corners of the globe than we are privileged to enjoy. When I was there last Summer, I heard a lot of praise for such British comedies as Genevieve and Laughter in Paradise, as well as the more sophisticated humour of Anthony Asquith's The Importanci of Being Ernest. Among the latest Hungarian productions are a number of home-made comedies — two of them with a football background, one of which I saw being filmed at the mammoth People's Stadium in Budapest. Our cover still this month is from The Football Star, and shows Laszlo Ungvary playing the part of the would-be dictator of the imaginary State of Footballia, where the position of the Government depends on whether the national soccer team wins the international championship. The Council of Ministers agrees to buy the best player from the Hungarian team at any price, but the Admiral entrusted with this mission buys the wrong man — an error which is only discovered just before the decisive match! Ferenc Puskas, Sandor Kocsis and the other members of the Hungarian national football team are guest artists in the picture. Fortune Smiles The other soccer comedy, A Tale of Twelve Points, is about four people who join together to form a syndicate to enter for the State football pool; fortune smiles on them and they get the winning twelve forecasts — but next day they learn with disappointment that so many others won that week that each one's share is quite insignificant! These two comedies, which sound as if they would be very popular over here, show part of the trend in Hungarian pictures recently (and more especially since the coming of the new government), for more warmth and humanity in the subjects produced and in their treatment. Separate Union There are virtually no film actors and actresses who work only for films, as they all also get engagements on the stage and on the radio. It is generally held that the best film artistes are the stars of the stage classics, amongst which Shakespeare and Moliere are very popular. Trade Union organisation is now on a different basis, as all film workers are in a separate Union from other entertainment workers — until a little while before the October events they were all in the same Union. ORDER YOU RUMOX BADGE A.C.T.T. Badges and Brooches can be obtained from Head Office BADGES 2/ BROOCHES 2/4 post free SEND FOR YOURS TODAY