The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

112 The Joiirnal of the Association of Cine-Technicians I'^cbruar}', 193(1 Recent Publications Salutations sincere and heartiest congratulations to our esteemed contemporary, La Cinematographic Fran<;aise, on their special number, dedicated in "Homage" to Louis LuMiERE, on the attainment of his seventy-first year, after forty years spent in the service of the Cinema. The event has proved an inspiration to its Editor, Mr. P. A. Harle, who, with the infallible logic and the psychological precision which is a racial characteristic, has devoted the whole 88 pages to an apergu of two-score years of events in the progress and development of the movies. To the die-hards in the kinematograph ranks of twenty years ago, a good many of the articles come as a reminder that it was to French studios most of the cinemas of that day were indebted for their star pictures, such as Gaumont and Pathe sent us. "Le Voyage dans la Lune," the Max Linder pictures, "The Triumph of Death," "L'Aiglon," "L'Homme aux Trois Masques," "Madame Sans-Gene," '■•William Tell," "Les Miserables," and a host of others, some of which came out in the open market days, not forgetting the varied programme features handled by the old Warwick Trading Company. Auguste Lumiere, the brother of Louis, tells us, in a wistfully written document, "Souvenirs," how he assisted his brother at the birth of kinematography, and latterly for family reasons turned his attention to the biological and medical researches in which he has attained such great distinction. A. P. Richard outlines the genesis of kinematography in a generously illustrated account, with diagrams of the ancient "gadgets" which probably our own historian, Will Day, might easily challenge. The Editor's own forty years' history of French kinematography reveals what may now be regarded as comic photographs of what stood for Studio progress in those halycon days, when scenery worked overtime, and natural scenes were anathema. Debrie fans will be interested in the story of the evolution of the famous camera and the indomitable spirits that refused to be outpaced in thirty-five years' competition with the world's most alert camera-constructors. Revellers in reminiscences will cherish the lavish display of photographs of old-time scenes in international!} famous masterpieces. But there is one item in this "Homage" Number that should make British picture-goers envious. It is the official account of the honour done to Louis Lumiere at The Sorbonne on 6th November last, when, headed by The President of the Republic, members of the French Cabinet, Ambassadors from every nation, the Members of the Institute and various famous scientists, assembled to pay tribute to the French inventor of kinematography. In fact, the French Government shewed themselves conscious of their debt to the films. Why should not the British Government equally honour those pioneers who have paved tiie way for the enlightenment, by the screen way, of a twenty million public ? Buckingham Palace Parties have been given for events of lesser significance. RoBB Lawson. FILM ACTING, by Pudovkin. Newnes. 7/6. We regret that a review of this book has been una\-()idahlv held over until the next issue. Panning Around the Globe [continued from preceding page). Prizes. We award three prizes this issue : — (1) A lighting contract with "Not To-Day Josephine Productions" to the student at a cinematography school who wants to enter the film industry and assures us that he can cut, record and light a picture, but is not quite so sure as to the correct use of clappers. (2) One brass figure to the solver of the equation : One Viola = Six Saxaphones. One gazunda to wisecracker, Pat Gay, at A.C.T. lectures for "the camera hanging together by excitement" and "a drop of Mother's blue-bag in the water" of a colour epic. (3) Tailpiece. Seeing as the Journal is out too late to wish you a Happy New Year ... I'll wish you all a soldier's farewell. . . . How are the folks Your Servant, POG. Index for Volume One Volume One is completed with jniblication of this number. An Index will be available by about the middle of February. A copy may be obtained upon application to the Journal Offices, or will be included in volumes bound by the printers of the Journal, details of which are advertised elsewhere. The Journal of the Association of Cine-Technicians SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS welcomed from ai! Cme-Tecnnicians. VOLUME TWO, NUMBER FIVE, will be published 1st May, 1936. Subscription Rate. 9d per copy ; lid post free. 3 6 per aniumi, post free. Special A.C.T. Members Rates. 6(1 per copy ; 8d post free. 2 6 per annum, post free. Order through any A.C.T. Studio Secretary, any branch of W. H. Smith cS: Son, Lttl.", or direct from Tlie Association of Cine-Technicians, 30 Piccadilly Mansions, 17 Shaftesbury A\cnuc, London, W.l.