The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

June 1956 CINE TECHNICIAN 91 and the warm friendship in which I modestly believe you hold me. " I shall be brief. As the late Calvin Coolidge said when he terminated his Presidency and was preparing to go. He was waylaid by reporters who said, ' Mr. President, aren't you going to say a few words to the American people ? He said, ' Yes, goodbye! ' " Now, I think I ought to say goodbye and thank you very much." Then there was a bouquet presented to Mrs. Chaplin and Charlie was on his feet again. He had had an after-thought. It was this: " One thing I would add, that now I am a member of a Union and, being a producer and an actor, I suppose if we go on strike either way, win or lose, I shall be one of you." As he was leaving the studio Charlie fingered his buttonhole and remarked that he hadn't got a Union badge. He didn't have to write up to Head Office and send a bob for one. Ken Roberts took his own badge out of his buttonhole and handed it to Charlie. " You can have mine," he said, " That badge will get you anywhere in the British film industry then Ken thought again an " But if you wear it at you're likely to get kicked And d added, / Lab Topics (continued) have to co-operate whole-heartedly. I look forward to hearing by letter from all concerned about this and I hope that something will emerge that will benefit everybody. Pathe, Elstree Stan Warbey writes that there have been some comings and goings at this Lab. lately, Mrs. Eleanor Wilkinson, Positive Examiner, has left to prepare for a happy event and she goes with every good wish from all members. In the printing room Bill Silcock has been promoted from Stock Joiner to Printer and Leslie Felstead, who has become Stock Joiner, is welcomed into A.C.T. In the last month's Lab Topics we referred to George IVANS. This should have been George IRONS. Sorry, George. Shorts and Documentary Section STEVE COX REPORTS: THE presentation of the scroll A conferring Honorary Life Membership of A.C.T. to Charlie Chaplin was a really wonderful occasion. While at the party I met Scriptwriter-Director Tony Thompson of British Transport Films and his wife, Betty. I first met Betty as Editor, when we both worked at World Wide Pictures. Many members, I am sure, will remember her in those days as Betty Lewis. During our conversation I found out that their son is now seven years old; how time flies. Among others I met there was an old friend and tutor of my early editing days, Editor Peter Tanner of Ealing Films. Peter was my first Editor when I started as an Assistant in the Cutting Room; we were working on documentary films for the then M.O.I. Other news of our section is that our Organiser, Bessie Bond, left London by air on Friday evening, June 1st, for her summer vacation — in Italy. Bon voyage, Bessie. An item which might interest football fans is that recently I was introduced to Mr. Jimmy Guthrie, Chairman of the Soccer Players' Union. He is, of course, an explayer himself and was, if my memory serves me correctly, Captain of the Portsmouth team when they won the F.A. Challenge Cup in 1939, and a Scottish International. He is now fully occupied trying to obtain better conditions for his members in a ' field ' he knows so well. In the last issue Middy claims that the Camera Section had set an example by appointing a Journal correspondent. Could I point out that " Lab Topics ", by Alf Cooper, has been going for years, and our column was started with Ian Brundle as Journal Correspondent in the August issue, 1955. It is a small point, I know, but surely in this case the Labs should receive the laurels. OUR COVER Our cover still is from The Importer, a story of a 17th century Japanese Robin Hood. With Rashomon and ToraNo-O it made a big impression on post-war Western film festivals and opened up foreign markets for Japan. Photo by Cont( mporary Films Ltd.