American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1931)

July, 1931 AMERICAN CINEMATOCRAPHER Thirty-nine Babbling About Brittany (Continued from Page 34) days, it gave me a sensation of unreality when I left the hotel on my first morning and saw these flocks of story book children looking as though they had come down from the wall paper of a modern child's nursery, Little Miss Muffit, Jack Horner, Augustus, Red Riding Hood, Contrary Mary, and all the other delightful unreal children we have ever known. That is one of the charms of this Brittany, every village has a slightly different aspect, different cap, and different ways. Here is something in petticoats I did not see elsewhere. The grown-ups also wear very bright and embroidered clothes, and a multiciplicity of petticoats, one over the other, and each one a different color!! This gives a lovely rainbow effect when they dance, and the skirts switch out, and pink, and blue, and yellow, and red, and green petticoats go swirling round too. It is a great sight on Sunday to watch from below the flight of step the "sortie de la grand'messe" men, women and children all in the velvets and embroidery, and these rainbow petticoats flashing and disappearing as they come down the steps to the road. The idea behind this petticoat wearing is two fold. Either it is to display wealth, you have money enough to own all these, or to indicate coquettishness, and the difference in color is to make the counting of the number easy. I noticed one pretty girl with a great display. I counted up to six, but I had difficulty in understanding whether she wished to convey a flirtatious invitation or merely exhibit her financial stability. I could not determine whether she wished to flaunt her wealth or her charms at me. Too faint hearted to "take a chance" and risk a snubbing, I shall never know now — for if ever I return she will be a grand mother. February is the great marrying month and it is not an uncommon sight to see a dozen couples at the church being married en bloc. It is a short distance to Le Folgoet where you will find one of the altars built in the open air, on the village green, or in an enclosed garden, and here when the day is fine the great religious ceremonies will be held instead of inside the church. In no place in the whole world are there so many churches as in Brittany, perfectly gorgeous cathedral-like buildings set at times in places where only about four houses are, and so far off the tourist beaten track that they are literally "born to blush unseen" and their architectural beauties can never be properly appreciated. Here in Le Folgoet is a splendid church built in memory of an idiot. I have found more than once that a local saint or venerated person has been a half-wit, or a person having some personal peculiarity for which, feared or despised during life, after death he had become beatified. This particular idiot named Salaun, lived under a large tree, close to a fountain, spending his time decorating the altar of the Virgin with lilies, and eternally singing: "Ave Maria! Ave Maria!" This evidently annoyed certain villagers so they "took him for a ride" and left him in the depths of the forest, having previously spread an easily believed rumor that he was possessed by an evil spirit. The Priest finding this out went in search of him, only to find him dead. Bringing him back to the village he caused him to be buried near his tree and fountain, when to the amazement of all a great white lily grew on his grave, which, upon investigation proved to have its roots in his mouth, and more miraculous still, upon the great white cup of the flower, in letters of pure gold, was written, clear to be seen by all, the words which had become so irritating by repetition in life: "Ave Maria." Crowds would then gather round his grave and retell the story. A new and better church had long seemed desirable to the Priest. Here was an auspicious moment to gather the funds. So in expiation of their cruel conduct he induced them to build this fine "Notre dame de Folgoet," the name Folgoet is a modern corruption of "Notre Dame de Fou du Bois" ("Our Lady of the Fool in the Woods") and from the eastern outer wall there still gushes the water of his fountain of pure drinking water, and on the right hand side of the porch of the church entrance you will see his statue, with his tree in his hand, an angel perched on his back, and, at his feet, a representation of his spring with fishes swimming in the waters of the pool. And do look at the haughty disdainful supercilious stare he gives every villager who enters that door, as though to say: "Who's looney now?" Eastman Cray Base (Continued on Page 15) way. For many years the Research Laboratories of the Eastman Kodak Company have been experimenting with backings, as a result of which they have evolved a special light gray backing which can be applied to negative film and which, in conjunction with the double coated film, obviates halation completely. For motion picture work a gray base is now being used as the support for all Eastman Super-sensitive Type Two Panchromatic film. This gray base does not change during processing and so involves no danger of chemical trouble. It is of importance to note that anti-halation backings have no direct chemical effect upon the emulsion characteristics. However, there is a decided enhancement of photographic quality effected by the avoidance of scattered light from the base side of the film. The removal of scattered light, then, gives the effect of different emulsion characteristics, although this effect is arrived at indirectly and not as an alteration of the emulsion. From a technical standpoint, the only difference in handling procedure demanded by gray back film is a consideration of the gray base density, which amounts to approximately .20 (63r/fT) in measured density after developing, fixing, washing, etc. The sensitometric difference is very slight, amounting only to a displacement to the left of the H and D curve, as compared with a similar test on white base. Figure I shows for the same emulsion, coated on gray base and white base, the actual sensitometric difference. As a result of this base density an increase of approximately 1 Vz to 2 printer points is necessary. This difference is very slight and causes no difficulties in laboratory procedure. A practical example of the value of the anti-halation backing is shown in the two accompanying photographs. Figure 2 shows a scene photographed on a negative emulsion coated on a normal white base. Figure 3 shows the same scene photographed with the same camera under identical conditions on gray base film. The films were developed together in a single solution for the same time. An examination of the prints will tell better than words the effect produced by the gray base anti-halation film. Actual tests by motion pictures shows a marked improvement in sharpness, highlight detail, and an overall enhanced photographic quality. The effects of halation are far reaching and the use of a film which destroys these effects should be in immediate demand. 33 Percent of Gross Now From Foreign Field FOREIGN accounts now make up 33 percent of Fox's gross film rentals, says Harley L. Clarke in the company's annual report. Increase in number of wired houses abroad promises a continued expansion of this market, said Clarke.