The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

March-April, 1952 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN 27 As Sid returned by train, Cotter and Crockett headed S.W. — but not alone, opposition sound trucks, press cars, aircraft, all had one destination— Falmouth. Would the ship make it? No she was sinking — now she was on tow again — rumour, more rumour. Now helicopters were to be used for rescue. Don't panic, ring Head Office (if you could get a line in Falmouth), will they please O.K. the price of a tug, would they send more cameramen ? With fewer rumours, Head Office had a clearer picture — yes, they were sending more men and aircraft — get the stuff back at all costs — at all costs? Yes, this was part of the service newsreels gave the Exhibitors (or should they not be called subscribers?) at no extra cost. At Falmouth it was evident that this was the greatest sustained story for years. Duplication — triplication — quadruplication of pressmen and cine crews. G.B Universal now had, in addition to Cotter and Crockett, Peter Cannon and soundman Best, Sid Bonnett and Jack Harding, and metaphorically, they certainly had to "rough" it. Sleep was a minus quantity. Whilst crews were at sea, others were busy contacting and making arrangements with local authorities for Carlsen's and Mate Dancy's reception. Hopes of harbouring the " Flying Enterprise " were now sinking, and as it fell to Jack Harding to be in at the beginning, so it transpired he was in at the end. Meanwhile Sid Bonnett had been flying through shocking weather to locate the ship and he had to return only to find that the aerodrome officials would not let him or any other newsreel planes take off again into a gale, which had forced even the helicopters to abandon rescue attempts. For the shore welcome to Carlsen, all cameramen converged on Falmouth, some units filming at Princess Pier, others at the Town Hall and still more at the Pavilion. This surely was a good job — done well by — " The Boys." LESLIE MURRAY wrote the story above. The one that follows comes from REG SUTTON THE guide book to Falmouth opens with the words, "Would you like to see the Casiterides that Herodotus and Strabo tell us of?" — well, we hardly had the time available to enjoy the Casiterides, the ancient British name for this area, the ancients — yes. We well remember the bartering and good humour of the local boatmen, " Shall we pay two-hundred for the day or a few extra bob and buy the darn thing ? " That hotbed of rumour, the " Chain Locker," where Press and newsreel gathered, ears alert and elbows at ease, presided over by the genial host, " Wee Jock." This indeed was a rich harvest for Falmouth in general, and one old salt in particular who was heard to remark, when asked the time of the next high tide, " One pound." Even the Chancellor of the Exchequer shared in the benefits, as witnessed by the queues outside all telephone booths and every other available phone, for liaison with respective offices of the Press and newsreel. The scene on Customs House Quay on the Wednesday morning when, by the toss of a coin, the fate of Norman Fisher and Reg Sutton was sealed and they went to sea in the tug " Merchantman " and what a sea; only the fishes know how rough it was. Norman's outstanding impression was of Reg Sutton steadily eating his way through a pile of Cornish pasties, but, alas — all in vain. On their return in the early hours of the following morning they could be heard telling hair-raising stories of their experiences, and David Samuelson, destined to go out a few hours later, retired in haste at the thought of it and appeared later looking decidedly paler — eightcourse dinner R.I.P. Soon after dawn, Sammy left in the tug and steamed steadily until 2 o'clock without sight or sound of the " Flying Enterprise " until by chance they picked up a radio message that Carlsen and Dancy were walking out along the funnel and that the ship was sinking rapidly. This provided the first clue to the whereabouts of the ship, a bearing was taken and the tug shuddered from stem to stern as they ploughed their way through the rough seas in that direction. More messages continued to come in that the ship was going down and the funnel awash — it was spotted far on the horizon and Sammy was heard to mutter a few Hebrew phrases, imploring the Almighty not to let it sink till he got there. They made it : the result was some of the finest newsreel pictures for many a day. Martin Gray, Terry O'Brien, Jimmy Humphries and Hilton Craig went out in a small boat in the harbour to film the arrival of the tug " Turmoil," with hopes of getting Carlsen and Dancy. The sea on the starboard side of the " Turmoil " was filled with small craft bobbing up and down and colliding with each other in their efforts to fulfil this purpose; needless to say, they all had a good soaking, which was supported by rain the following day on the pier and outside the Town Hall when Carlsen and Dancy came ashore. Hilton Craig, our contact man, with his expert knowledge of the sea and himself an enthusiastic yachtsman, set up his own naval operations room and flitted hither and thither with Met.