American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1946)

Carleton of Hollywood Colorfilm Back From Agfa Checkup C. H. Carleton of Hollywood Colorfilm Corporation is back from Germany, where he got an insight into the improve¬ ments of color film processing as de¬ veloped by the Agfa engineers and tech¬ nicians during the war years. Special group of American color ex¬ perts was headed by Nathan Golden, chief of the foreign motion picture di¬ vision of the Department of Commerce. Others in the party included: Harold Harsh of Ansco, H. Werner Sachs of Photo Products division of RemingtonRand, and Lt. Col. Richard Ranger, who met the party in Europe and ar¬ ranged details of visits and interviews. Carleton stated the party went through several film and camera plants in the American zone of occupation, watched the processing and making of film, and interviewed the top directors, chemists and research engineers of Agfa who were all in the American zone. Information received, he declared, filled in gaps with specific data and de¬ tails which had not been previously dis¬ closed with relation to the processing of color film, and especially resulted in the correction of chemical formulas. A 34 page report was prepared by the group, and will shortly be released generally to the film industry by Golden in Wash¬ ington. Bulk of information compiled indicated that the Wolfen Agfa color film plant is now being operated by the Russians, as the factory is in latter’s zone. Conclu¬ sion is that the Soviet is using the color film manufactured for its own state film activities. Victor Donates Visual Scholarships To encourage and further the increase of visual education, Victor Animatograph Corporation has provided funds for two 4-H Club scholarships in visual education. Check to cover the scholar¬ ships has been turned over to the Na¬ tional Committee on Boys and Girls Club work by S. G. Rose, executive vice president of Victor Corporation. Contestants for the scholarships are required to show evidence of interest and experience in the operation of mo¬ tion projection equipment, use of cam¬ eras, slidefilms, slides and other visual aids. Victor Animatograph is one of the leading manufacturers of 16 mm. sound projectors and equipment. Telefilm Completes 16mm. Newsreel Telefilm technicians have completed sound dubbing and release prints via kodachrome of the second release of “Planet News.” Latter is strictly a 16 mm. newsreel, and was photographed in color by Tom Braatelein and Ed Drews. Although Carleton could not discuss technical details uncovered by the in¬ vestigating group because of the early issuance of the combined report, he did point out that current newsreels in color had been released regularly in Germany during the war, with the prints being shown in the theatres generally within a week after being originally shot. He dis¬ closed that prints of these color news¬ reels are being brought back to the United States for general information of the industry, together with prints of features and shorts also turned out in color. Total of 12 features and about 50 short subjects — in addition to the news¬ reels — were produced via the Agfa color process during the war, Carleton stated, and many of these displayed a much bet¬ ter overall color quality for depth, defini¬ tion, pastel and vivid colors, than the color in “Girl of My Dreams,” Germanmade color feature which was shown generally in Hollywood and New York to interested film officials. The German film industry was par¬ ticularly short of cameras and produc¬ tion equipment, Carleton commented. For this reason, three okayed shots of every scene for a picture had to be okayed for negative, as only one camera was being used at all times. De Brie super parvo and Eclair cameras were generally used by the German studios, while Arroflex cameras were utilized for newsreel work. Latter are decidedly compact and light in weight, carrying 200 foot magazines; however, there were very few of them in the hands of the Germans for use. Denham Promoted by DuPont James S. Denham, who has been as¬ sistant manager of the Rayon depart¬ ment of DuPont, has been appointed general manager of the Photo Products division to succeed George A. Scanlan. Latter retired last month due to health reasons. Both Denham and Scanlan joined the DuPont organization in 1915. "Floating Film" Features Bell & Howell Projectors Prolonging the life of home movie makers valued pictures has been a major concern of movie equipment man¬ ufacturers. Developed film has long been protected by chemical processes, but these alone are not enough if the projec¬ tor subjects the film to excessive wear as it is carried through the machine. This wear is caused mainly by the sprockets, rollers, and guides. Quick, effortless film threading is of no value if, in the process, the film is scratched or -punctured. Answer to these problems is claimed by Bell & Howell Company for its “float¬ ing film” features. Their movie projec¬ tors are said to be equipped with sprock¬ ets and rollers that do not permit the picture area or sound track of the film to touch any stationary metal parts as it passes through the machine. Thus, scratching of the emulsion is eliminated, providing longer lasting clarity of pic¬ tures. This has been accomplished by placing on the sprockets, rollers, gate shoe, and guides, a thin land or ridge which is the only metal that contacts the film. This has been accomplished by placing on the sprockets, rollers, gate shoe, and guides, a thin land or ridge which is the only metal that contacts the film. This land is so located that it touches the film near the perforations, outside the picture area. The shuttle teeth, trans¬ porting the film past the aperture, move in a rectangular path. This straight in — straight down — straight out — action pre¬ vents the teeth from “sawing” on the edges of the film perforations. Sprockets and sprocket guards are de¬ signed to prevent incorrect film thread¬ ing. The film is either properly threaded on the sprocket, with the teeth engaging the perforations correctly, or it is held clear of the sprocket teeth by the guard. There, although it is obviously not cor¬ rectly threaded, no damage to the film can result even though the machine is started. When correctly threaded on the sprockets, the guard positively pre¬ vents the film from coming off. These sprockets are claimed to greatly sim¬ plify film threading. Bell & Howell sprocket and guard designed to eliminate film wear. When film is incorrectly threaded, guard holds it clear of sprocket teeth. 122 April, 1946 • American Cinematographer