FilmIndia (May-Dec 1938)

FILMINDIA October 1938 SETH CHIMANLAL B. DESAI New Baby Keg-Lite Born at Bardwell McAlister's but exploit a still larger virgin field. WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES DO That brings to mind another Paramount fiasco about 3 years back. Paramount had produced a picture called "The Devilish Woman" portraying the character of a Spanish woman in loose and cheap colours. The Spanish authorities saw the picture and not only banned the picture in Spain, but demanded the original negative for destruction. Paramount would not have agreed to that had they not been faced with the alternative of losing the Spanish market for all Paramount pictures. So the negative was burned in the presence of the Spanish authorities, thus vindicating the national honour of Spain. Spain was then a country of free men. India is still a land of slaves. MOURNED BY LADIES Max Factor, the famous cosmetician and make-up expert from Hollywood died on 30th August 1938. Beginning his career as hairdresser at the Russian Court, he emigrated to America where he opened a small salon for stage make-up. To-day the Max-Factor make-up laboratory is the only institution in the world, that supplies a "blush" even to a "dead" woman. Max Factor has died but his memory we shall find on every beautiful face. SABU IN AMERICA Sabu, Korda's "Elephant Boy" and drummer, was the guest of President Roosevelt when he visited America for the premiere of "The Drum". The picture was opened on the 22nd September at the Radio City Music Hall. New York. "THE DRUM" BANNED As we go to the press, we understand that the Madras Government has banned "The Drum" and stopped its intended release on the 17th September at Madras. Gov f Mr Mr. Chimanlal B. Desai is a frontline man in the Indian film industry. As a producer, distributor and exhibitor on a big scale, being a unique achievement for one man, he plays a great part in the future of our industry. Proprietor of Sagar Movietone and partner in Supreme Film Distributors and several cinemas Mr. Desai is perhaps the most unassuming person in the industry. He is recently appointed on the Bombay Board of Film Censors as a representative of the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association. ernment's action is praiseworthy because it showed exemplary courage by banning the picture after the Muslims in the Censor Board had passed it for release. WHAT A CELEBRATION? The anniversary of the Madras United Artists' Corporation was celebrated in rather a tragic way. Free film shows were given at 7 leading theatres and owing to the unprecedented crowds and rush one person died and several were injured. At the Gaiety, where the crowd was the largest, one woman was crushed on the spot, being trampled upon and her body was removed to the General Hospital. 18 others who sustained injuries have also been admitted in the general hospital. Simplicity and lightness are the keynotes of a new 500 watt unit introduced by Bardwell & McAlister, Inc, Hollywood lighting equipment manufacturers. Following the general lines of the Keg-Lite, this Baby Keg weighs only 28 pounds complete with double riser stand. For breakdown the head only weighs 16 pounds, stand 12 pounds. The popular BM quick-focusing device has been further simplified. A lever arm, protruding from both front and rear, is moved from side to side for focusing spot to flood. So simple is this mechanism that a high lamp can be focused by merely exerting a pressure against the protruding lever. The lamp can be furnished with either pre-focus or medium bipost sockets. Both types of sockets are porcelain base, insuring against deterioration from heat. A short focus 6 inch diameter fresnel lens combined with a prefocused high reflecting mirror gives great efficiency in lighting output. The Keg-Lite line and ventilation incorporated in this lamp make for longer globe life as well as coolness of operation. This lamp, while light in weight yet of sturdy construction, is a contribution to the small spot field for studio and professional and advanced amateur use. — Extract from "America)/ ( iacmatographer "August 1938. 40