The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

November 1955 CINE TECHNICIAN Readers' Letters The Editor, "The Cine Technician." Dear Sir : I am writing the biography of Orson Welles, which Hutchinson are bringing out next Spring under the title " The Fabulous Orson ". I wonder if any ACT members can help me with stories, anecdotes, personal recollections or reminiscences of Orson? Welles has worked here in The Third Man, Trent's Last Case, Three Cases of Murder, Trouble in the Glen, and Moby Dick. If any of the technicians on any of these films can be bothered to sit down and write to me about anything that occurs to them about Orson I should be most grateful. Or perhaps a telephone call to Maida Vale 4221 ? I'd love to hear from members who may have stories to add to the legend. It will all help to give my book colour and authenticity. Yours sincerely, Peter Noble. 46 Abbey Road, N.W.8. The Editor, "The Cine Technician." Dear Sir : My application for a visa has been with the Soviet authorities for some eighteen months, and I have recently renewed the application. I have been advised to book a tour through Messrs. Progressive Tours Ltd., London, S.W.I, and hope to be able to go to the Soviet Union during the coming summer of 1956. Are there any technicians who would wish to come with me as a party, when I can make a further application to visit the Soviet Film Industry? I particularly want to stress the fact that this would be a non-political visit. Will anyone who wishes to accompany me kindly contact me via your office. Yours faithfully, Donald Wynne. Technician's Notebook (continued) new " Cronar " polyester film base is expected to come into largescale production later this year. A " Cronar " cine film base only 2J mils in thickness — existing cine film base is 5 mils thick — has been tried out experimentally by DuPonts. 167 Book Review WINDOW ON ITALY The Italian Film Production 195455. Published in English by Unitalia Film, Rome. A catalogue of ninety nine recent Italian films may seem to be only of interest to the small but growing band of exhibitors of Continental pictures. The Italian Film Production 1954-55, has the imposing sound of the sales pamphlet, but its contents are of great importance to all film technicians interested in their work, for it opens a window upon a great film producing industry. Reading between the lines, we learn the phenomena of Italian production. The practice of employing several screen-writers on one picture is very evident : eight writers, including the prolific genius Cesare Zavattini, worked on the scenario of The Sign of Venus (starring Sophia Loren and Vittorio de Sica), and six cooperated on the important peace film Women and Soldiers. I was surprised to see French Can-Can, which has been so successful recently at the Regent Street Cameo-Poly, listed among Italian pictures. I learnt that this Technicolor masterpiece of Jean Renoir's was a French-Italian co-production. This illustrates how so many Italian films are now losing their national flavour, which was often the attractive feature of the post-war realist Italian cinema. Of the ninety-nine films given, twenty-eight are co-productions with France, three with Germany, three with Spain, and one with Japan. American and British influences are less apparent — Ulysses and Romeo and Juliet are evidently not classed in any way as being Italian films worthy of mention. But such stars' names as Patricia Roc, Ingrid Bergman, Mel Ferrer and Dennis O'Keefe crop up in the cast lists, and some of the stories appear built largely around spectacle in an attempt to crash into the American market. The Italian film workers are suffering from a serious slump, but co-productions and trying to beat Hollywood at what it does best are not the way to build a healthy national film industry. The Italians will succeed only when they reflect their own people's lives, desires and hopes on the screen. The same applies to the British film industry. C.B. The following vacancies have been notified to this office : DENHAM LABORATORIES LTD. (Apply to Mr. H. G. Barker) There is a vacancy for an Assistant Accountant under the direction of Mr. Reynolds. Applicants must be experienced and capable of working to final figures. There is a vacancy for a Driver in the Transport Department to work under the direction of Mr. Nicholls. There is a vacancy for a Senior Male Clerk for stock control and internal audit to work under the direction of Mr. Reynolds. There is also a vacancy in the Negative Breakdown Department to work under the direction of Miss Williams. TECHNICOLR LTD. (Apply to Personnel Department) Auxiliary Equipment : Fitter's Mate. Canteen: General Assistant Kitchen Porter. Matrix Printing: Flasher/Loader. PA/Shipping: Splicers. Track Printing: Printers. Track Developing: Driers. Solutions Department: Chemical Mixer II. Transfer: Dry End Operators. Viewing: General Assistant. Watchman : Watchman / Janitor (Poyle). M.G.M. STUDIOS (Apply to Mr. White, ELStree 2000) There is a vacancy at the above studio for a Negative Developer.