The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

80 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN July — August, 194. secure control, directly or indirectly, of additional cinemas or their booking arrangements, or of production studios, without the prior consent of the President of the Board of Trade, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. I should be very glad if you would confirm this undertaking, which will, I believe, go far to allay the anxieties expressed in many quarters. I understand that you wish to conclude some negotiations which are already far advanced for the purchase of certain cinemas, and you were good enough to send me a detailed list. In cases in which bids already made are accepted I raise no objection, but I should like you to agree to make no new bids and not to increase any bids which prove unacceptable to the vendor. The total number of cinemas operated by Odeon and Gaumont-British Companies would therefore be something less than 607. I shall be most happy to discuss with you at any time any problems which may arise out of this undertaking, or, indeed, any other questions concerning the British film industry, to the progress of which you have already contributed so much. — Yours sincerely, (Signed) HUGH DALTON. J. Arthur Bank, Esq. Heathfield, Beigate Heath, Surrey. 30th June, 1943. My dear Dr. Dalton, Thank you for your letter of the 28th instant, in the second paragraph of which you set out the undertaking which I gave you verbalby, and which I now have pleasure in confirming. I can assure you that I have no desire to see anything in the nature of a monopoly created in the film industry ; but I believe you appreciate that some degree of rationalisation was required if the British Industry is to be built on a sound basis, and given sufficient solidarity to compete in fields where powerful elements were already established. It is with very real pleasure that I have received your assurance that I can come and discuss with you any problem which affects the British Industry . — Yours sincerely, (Signed) J. ARTHUB BANK. The Right Hon. Hugh Dalton, M.P., Board of Trade, Millbank, S.W.I. BRYAN LANGLEY— f concluded from page j8j After production was over, and before I had time to see the rushes, I was whisked off to the Chin Hills in Burma where I made the usual routine newsreel shots. These Chins are most amusing chaps, and some have been converted to Christianity. One such Christian Chin and myself were standing on top of a hill one day and I asked him if a cemetery near by was a Christian one. In horror-stricken accents he replied "Oh no, sahib, not Christian, it's a British cemetery." These converted Chins have so many restrictions placed upon them by the missionaries in the name of religion that there is little connection between the stern religious life they lead and our British way. Returning to India after this Chin Hills tour I was sent to cover a BESA touring show (similar to ENSA shows here) and I had a delightful week on tour with the show folk. It was quite like being back in the film business to hear all the squabbles and tittle-tattle. One of the most common expressions was " not for all the rice in China would I appear before those gorillas to-night "... when the curtain went up, there they were singing and dancing and acting, on the old stage principle that " the show must go on." The lady performers of BESA are mostly amateur, gifted no doubt but still amateur. One of the girls in the show to which I was attached had only her looks to raise her to stardom and consequently she .was known as " the Dumbell." Needless to say, she did have a very fine waist. As is well known by all film technicians who have made a back-stage picture, the stage manager goes around just before the show is due to commence shouting " OVERTURE AND BEGINNERS— Please hurry up there, five minutes — overture and BEGINNERS." This went on for a week or so at the start of the tour until one night poor Dumbell burst into a flood of tears, saying ' Boo-hoo, please don't rub it in, Mr. Stage .Manager (sniff, sniff) — I know I'm only a beginner but I do try so very very hard." NORMAN'S FILM LIBRARY We are sorry that broken type made it difficult for readers to see the telephone number of j Norman's Film Library in their advertisement in the last issue. It is GERRARD 6413 We apologise to Norman's Film Library for any inconvenience which they may have been caused.