The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

40 THE CINETECHNICIAN May— June, l'.tU CINEMA War Office Cine Production Committee Good work is being done by the newly formed Kiematograph Production Committee under the able chairmanship of Brigadier General N. M. Carstairs, Director of Army Kinematography. The members of the Committee are Mr. Hugh Roberts, M.V.O.. the Government Cinematograph advisor, the Deputy Director Army Kinematography A.K.I, A.K.2 and A.K.4, and representatives of the Short Film Producers, Newsreel Association, Association of Film Laboratory Employers and British Film Producers Association; the Association of Cine-Technicians and the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees representing the Unions. After a preliminary skirmish by the trade for position, Brigadier General Carstairs, by his keenness and tact, wove the Committee into a harmonious body working whole-heartedly for the betterment oi Army Training Films. I cannot tell you more because the proceedings are confidential but I have every confidence that the work of the Committee will be of great assistance to the National effort and to the Film Industry. A.C.T. is very proud to serve on it. Crown Theatre Reopens I am pleased to hear from Mr. Frost that the damage suffered in the recent blitz on Wardour Street has now been put right and The Crown Theatre has again reopened. We are sure the many firms who use his facilities will be glad to hear this, as also will the Westminster Branch and other sections of A.C.T. who accept Mr. Frost's hospitality to hold their meetings in hos theatre . " The Critics Reviewed " Frank Sainsbury received the following telegram, unfortunately with a Crewe and not a Holly wood postmark, following his article " The Critics Rev tewed " in the last issue, in which he had quite a lot to say about Orson Welles . . . "Am very very cross with you — Orson." "Tunisian Victory" This second triumph of the Service Film Units w as indeed a combined operation between the Service technicians of Britain and America. The British Unit was headed by Major Hugh Stewart, who spent six months in North Africa superintending the actual shooting, with Captain Roy Boulting as supervising editor. The American side was headed by the famous Hollywood director, Colonel Frank Capra, of the United States Signal Corps. . Hi? team included Captain John Huston, Captain Anthony Veiller and several assistant technicians. The whole film was shot by front-line Army and PAP. Film Unit cameramen, whilst actual fighting was in' progress. Representatives of A.C.T. sat on the Boards who selected a large number of these battle cameramen and they feel very proud that they helped in the selection of these soldier technicians who go into action with the Commandos, jump with the Paratroops, advance with the P.B.I, or fly with the Fighter Bombers, their only weapon the cine-camera. Their work is excellent. It is with deep regret that we note the loss of three cameramen who shot scenes in this film — F/Lieut, Gallai-Hatchard, of the R.A.F. Film Unit, who shot much of the flying material, Cap tain Harry Rignold, M.C., and Sgt. Colman, both of the Army Film Unit. In addition Driver Taylor, Driver McGee and Pte. Ford, of the Army Film and Photographic Unit were also killed while serving the battle cameramen. The chief negative cutter, Mrs. White, is the only civilian in the Army Film Unit. She was assisted by a team of both Army and R.A.F. film technicians. Mrs. White had sergeants working under her instructions but apparently sergeantdon't mind taking instructions from a civilian because they made her an honorary member of the Sergeants' Mess at the studio. Never before has a film carried as main credit tie names of Governments of the United States and Great Britain. The verdict of Fleet Street wal that the film was far too short. A fine job and a great credit to all concerned. Pictures on the right show some of the people responsible for Tunisian Victory.