American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1942)

BUSINESS MOVIES CATERPILLAR DIESELS GO TO WAR Promotional news-documentary, 1400 feet black-and-white, sound. Produced by Caterpillar Tractor Co. This is in many ways the best of this firm's films we have yet been privileged to view. In characteristically swift-moving fashion, it tells something, at least, of the tremendous job "Caterpillar" tractors and diesel power-units are doing in America's War Effort, preparing airfields. Army Camps and bases, to say nothing of aircraft, munitions and other war production plants in every corner of the country. When to the bewildering number and variety of projects shown in this film are added (as every viewer will do mentally) the many highly secret projects being similarly carried out here and abroad, one can't help feeling America is marching to war on caterpillar treads. Technically, this picture is excellent. It seems to be an interesting blend of really good reductions from 35mm. and equally good black-and-white duplicates from direct-16mm. Kodachrome. The photography is excellent, and the laboratory work well above the usual standard of black-and-white commercial 16mm. — quite the best, in fact, that we've seen in some time. The sound-recording is the best we've yet heard on a "Caterpillar" picture. Either the recording studio has changed their 35mm. characteristics to match those of 16mm. projectors, or (which seems more likely) the recording was done direct in 16mm. In any event, the sound is excellent. GIFTS FROM THE SUN Documentary on fruit-drying; 800 ft. Kodachrome, sound. Produced by W. A. Palmer & Co. Presented by California Packing Corp. (Del Monte). Making a color-film for a fruit-packing organization like Del Monte is an acid test of both the cinematographer and the laboratory producing the Kodachrome duplicate release-prints. In this case, W. A. Palrner & Co. did both, and performed both tasks magnificently. We pride ourself on having a rather critical eye for color-reproduction, but we don't see how the color in "Gifts F'rom The Sun" could be improved. The photography is .Trst-class, and the color print one of the finest, if not actually the finest we've ever seen. The picture deals with the preparation of sun-dried fruits — apricots, prunes, raisins, etc. — and obviou.sly had to be shot when the fruit-pack permitted, rather than when the director-cinematographer chose. Luckily, however, the well-publicized California sun was the drying agent, and thus simplified weather problems on the many exterior scenes. The interior scenes show an exceptionally good understanding of the methods of controlling the color-temperature of lighting, and balancing both lighting and exposure to give the best color-reproduction. The sound is, as usual with Palmer's recording work, top-quality direct-16mm. recording. The story-construction of the picture is entertainingly handled, with the narration a three-way affair between the sun and a married couple apparently in the audience. BEHIND THE RED SHIELD Documentary, 1100 ft. Kodachrome, sound. Produced for the Salvation Army by Randolph Clardy. Direct-16mm. recording by Telefilm. It is probable that this picture was produced on a rather limited budget and schedule, but Clardy's picture-making skill makes it interesting throughout. His treatment of the central character of the film's rehabilitation theme is excellently dramatic, and his photographic treatment — especially his lightings wherever he had any opportunity at all for studio-type lighting — is technically first-rate. His handling of other phases of the subject-matter is good, especially in the way he makes the film answer the question we all ask about what does the Salvation Army do with all the brokendown furniture, clothing, etc., it collects for salvage. All told, the picture should do its sponsors a lot of good, in almost every part of the country. MEXICO BUILDS A DEMOCRACY Documentary, 800 ft. Kodachrome, sound. Produced by Contemporary Film.s for the Office of the Coordinator of InterAmerican Affairs. Direct-16mm. recording and Kodachrome duping by W. A. Palmer & Co. Primarily an instructional film, this picture is more properly an inspirational film, for it tells a moving story of Mexico's impressive campaign against illiteracy. A faithful re-enactment of recent events, the picture shows how a young Mexican teacher, after first mastering the language of the Indians of the region, goes forth alone to spend six months in a remote little mountain village, while he teaches the Indian inhabitants to read, and trains from among the villagers a teacher to follow in his footsteps after he leaves. There is drama in the way he saves the village from an epidemic, and throughout are innumerable characteristic touches which will help us better to understand our nearest southern neighbors. Technically, the picture is excellent. Photographed on the actual locations, deep in the mountainous heart of Mexico, it was by no means an easy photographic assignment, but it is very well handled. A few more close-ups of the big-head variety would have been welcome, but this was probably impossible because the cast was composed entirely of untrained actors. The story is told in silent form, with narrative sound and a musical accompaniment of authentic Indian melodies of the region. The recording and the Kodachrome releaseprint are among the best yet seen. The optical effects also deserve comment, not only because they are very well done, but because of the smooth way they fit into the picture. All told, we can recommend this picture very highly, not only to schools and educational groups interested in learning more of Mexico and obtaining an entirely new appreciation of the Indian mentality, but to photographic groups whose interest may be expected to be strictly technical. Movie Clubs (Continued from Page 361) sistance, including aid in planning programs and providing transportation to hard-to-reach camps. Special leaders have been made up, using the name and insignia of the A.A.C.S., and are attached to the films shown. JAMES A. SHERLOCK, Publicity Officer. Travel-Films For Long Beach The July 15th meeting of the Long Beach Cinema Club headlined two excellent 16mm. Kodachrome sound-films loaned by the Union Pacific Railroad. Titled "Moon Over Sun Valley," and "Yellowstone Park," these films were a tantalizing reminder of vacation pleasures back in the days before rationed tires and priorities on travel. PRUDENCE BRAKLOW, Secretary. Montage (Continued from Page 359) footage for each idea. The visual effect would be different, but the idea conveyed would be the same. Both of these types of montage have a definite place in picture-making — amateur picture-making by no means least. I would suggest using the Russian type of montage, made up of a succession of increasingly short "flash" cuts accented by the use of striking camera-angles, for occasions where you want to build to an extremely fast tempo in getting over an impression of strife or quick-paced confusion. A good example might be in a picture dealing with a lost dog, in a sequence where you wanted to convey something of the poor dog's terrified confusion at finding himself in the mid 364 August, 1942 American Cinematographer