The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

112 The Journal of the Association of Cine-Technicians r>ec., ig36-Jan., ig Who's Who Amongst A.C.T. Vice-Presidents IVOR MONTAGU Burly, untidy, black-haired, overcoated Ivor Montagu is 32. Younger son of Swaythling family — famous Jewish bankers. Would make good banker himself had he not taken up zoology, table tennis, films and politics. Won medal at age of four, as youngest infant at that time to swim length of bath at Bath Club. Educated Westminster, where he studied zoology at South Kensington. Later studied under Lance Hogben at Royal College of Surgeons. Then King's College, Cambridge. Failed on most exams., but was given B.A. standard for Zoology. Finally took degrees in English and French, two terms before his proper time. Had to stay at Cambridge to prove diligence. Found lectures sent him to sleep, so was permitted to do original research. Forgot original research until last week of last term. Spent last week measuring skulls of beavers to nearest 1 /100th of a millimetre. Original research passed as O.K. Took up table tennis because he thought he was good at it — better than anyone else. Found he wasn't, but all the same remains chairman of International Advisory Council of Table Tennis. Went out to look for mice in Caucasus and thence to films. Founded Film Society with Sydney Bernstein, Iris Barry, Angus MacPhail, Adrian Brunei and others. At last moment George Atkinson — film journalist — accused Film Society of digging into well-known Moscow gold. Atkinson had to publish apology and Film Society flourislies. Founded Brunei and Montagu who handled all kinds of foreign re-editing iobs. Knackers for the film industry, as Ivor describes them, and known widely as Brunei and Montagu. Cut Lodger, early Hitchcock silent with only thirty titles — unheard of feat at the time. Made three silents for Rowson in 1929. Best known is Bluebottles. Quota just coming in, so Rowson held shorts up until Act passed. Talkies came at same time. Films missed boat. Until recently Unit Production Manager for Gaumont-British. Sandwiches job in with trips to Moscow, International Table Tennis, translation and many other pursuits. He and another sole members of A.C.T. for two years, in G.B. studio. A.C.T. now booming and Ivor plays important part. Doesn't like photographs of himself ; hence none at top of this screed. (Reprinted from World Film News). KENNETH GORDON. Destined to be a civil engineer, took up projecting in spare time. Apprenticed Bolak's Press Agency for photography, but continued studies in electrical engineering. Was one of the first pliotographers on Daily Mirror to use photo-telegraphy (under Thorne Baker). Worked with the late Andy Wright Films Ltd. of Liverpool ; joined the Bristol Evening News as photographic reporter ; returned to Films Ltd. ; equipped a number of picture theatres. Joined the Gaumont Company for King Edward's funeral. King George V. Coronation. Filmed the Delhi Durbar ; filmed and experimented with earliest colour processes — Kinemacolour, Biocolor and Cronocrome. Was photographer in Balkan War with the Turks, filming and taking press photos for London News Agency and Illustrated London News. Mentioned in Ashmead Bartlett's report of the Battle of Lula Bergas in Daily Telegraph. Entered production field and photographed a number of pictures for the Brittonia Film Co., and the Magnet Film CompanyCalled to the Army, 1914, acted as official cinematographer Royal Tours to the Industrial North, 1917, returned to the Armv at end of leave. KENNETH GORDON. After Armistice joined official newsreel under Ministry of Information. Founder-member of Kinecameraman's Society, forerunner of A.C.T. War cameraman British North Russian Force. Filmed productions for Walter Ford and Master Film Co. Joined Pathe and was staff photographer in Ireland during the "Troubles." Now devoting himself to Magazine Film work, and has filmed in Norway, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Africa and Canada. "Wardour Street," as Connery Chappcll says, "contains Ken Gordon, who looms before you like a traffic jam, and blandly cuts off advance and retreat." D. C. DICKINSON. "Kind Words Never Die," friuned as it was in grandma's days, hung from the camera-room wall. Desmond Dickinson was at home. Explained object of visit. "I like pictures and I like making them. That's all," was the reply. Later, between potting red, black and another red, we learned that just after the war, much against his employer's advice, Dickinson left his job as an office-boy, mounted his bicycle, rode over to Croydon and started in tlie dark room of the Clarendon Film Company at 15/per week. First job was cleaning out the drains, technically known as guUeys. There some while and appreciates all-round experience ; projecting, film printing (judgment printing on rushes), odd bits of positive dc *