Amateur Cine World (March 1935)

(Continued from proof of the real Technical Features of MARCH Releases previous page) ably put it, it at the same time reminds us that a great ‘‘star’’ does not need anything new in the way of story material to make a new film. Total requirements seem to be a change of locale and a change of wardrobe, which, of course, is a very convenient and profitable way of making motion pictures, although it may be interesting to recall that this company has made a million pounds less profit last year than the year before. _It does seem to suggest that someone is tiring of something. We are always talking of the big difference between stage and _ screen technique; but that difference is no bigger than the one between film form and book form. A story which is expressed in its best form as a novel can never make as successful or fine a film unless its theme is completely rebuilt If you have read, or feel like reading, Somerset Maugham’s Of Human Bondage, then you will be able to compare the book with the film of the same name. Shooting the legs alone is an old trick, but still worth remembering, as this film shows. Our Hobby Their Duty The amateur cinematographers of the War period made Forgotten Men, a documentary survey built_up from German and other war-time film clippings.’ The photography of some of the scenes, taken under shell fire and tremendous hardships is comparable with the best the screen has given us. We must salute here the dominant valour of the unknown cameramen who made your hobby their duty in the face of death, for the benefit of posterity. It is not for me here to judge the morale of such a film, although I should like to say the modern day presentation of the raw material leaves much to be desired, but from the amateur’s point of view we can _ accept a film of this type as positive Scenes for the B.I.P. film “* Mr. Cinders’’ were shot on location for the river sequences. George Western, of the famous Western ; ; I Brothers, is here seen rehearsing twice. Extracts from a foreign version before a ‘take’, while director Frederick Zelnik (seated) looks on. | value of amateur cinematography. The very En; glish atmosphere of: Badgers Green, and the large number of outdoor sequences, makes the film a simple pattern for amateur work. Wagon Wheels is a ‘‘new’’ western, but I seem to remember some sequences from the Covered Wagon reissued. It would be easy to change silent film to talkie speed by printing every second frame of the film were similarly cut into My Song Goes Round the World, where English dialogue was not required. Comedy dramas include: Evelyn Prentice, The Notorious Sophie Lang, Have a Heart, with a lot of sentiment; Radio Star, with some smart dialogue; and Ready for Love. Comedies include: Mister Cinders, film version of stage musical comedy; Afterwards, Pitts and Summerville; Lady in Danger, Ben Travers farce with Tom Walls; Friends of Mr. Sweeney, intricate comedy ; Bachelor Bait and Leave it to Blanch. Dramas: The Dover Road, Desirable, Wicked Woman, The Key. Melodramas: Now and Forever, Big Business. Mystery : Moonstone, Return of the Terror, Anything Might Happen. * * * In a scene representing a barber’s shop in the M-G-M film, ‘‘The Winning Ticket,’’ sun lamps, such as are used in medical work, were added to the more orthodox lighting to simulate a sunlight effect. These lamps supply the proportion of infra-red and_ ultra-violet rays found in sunlight. Thus sunlight outside and artificial light inside the shop were photographed at the same time. So that’s how they get that sun effect, with just a single spot placed very close to the actress in bed. , The scene is from ‘ Moonstone.”