FilmIndia (May-Dec 1938)

Books of the Month "MOTION PICTURE SOUND ENGINEERING" (Published by: D. Van Nostrand Publishing Co., 250, Fourth Avenue, New York. Pages 547 — Price 6/-.) This is a book which is worth its weight in gold to the serious professional. The Research Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is behind the book and one can well imagine the authoritative nature of its contents. Arranged in two parts, some of the thirty-nine chapters are headed as follows: — Basis of Motion Picture Sound, The Nature of Sound, Noise Reduction, Microphones, Headphones and Loud Speakers, Phase Distortion, General Network Theory, Amplifier Circuits, Electrical Power and Energy, Generation and Motors, Vacuum Tubes etc. The book is a wonderful monument of the sincerity of all those who helped directly or indirectly to create it. Incidentally it is an important milestone marking the present progress of an all important phase of the film industry. "FILMS IN THE MAKING" (By Robb Lawson. Published by: Sir Issac Pitman & Sons Ltd., Parker Street, Kingsway, London, Pages 132, Price 2sh.) Written by an experienced man, this is a good book to give the layman a nodding acquaintance with the present day film industry. The book is a short outline of the various technicalities of movie-making. It is in addition a history of the progress of how the movies are made, the arrival of sound, the development of cinemas etc. Quite a good book for the advanced amateur. "BOOM TOWN" (By: Jack O'Connor, Published by S. Constable Co., Ltd., 10-12, Orange Street, London, W.C. 2. Pages 314. Price 7/6). A rough and ripping yarn of the times when a part of the world was still young and men staked their lives on prospecting. The piece-de-resistance of this tale is silver. Written in an unrestrained colloquial style, the author has provided many thrilling incidents, which grip the attention of the reader and take him from page to page inspite of himself. Cruel in parts and tender at times, the life of Frank O'Reilly the principal figure in the story, presents several aspects of psychological importance to the student of human nature. A good book for a long railway journey. "FILM & SCHOOL" (By: Helen Rand & Richard Lewis. Published by: D. Appleton Century Co., Inc., 34, Bedford Street, Strand, London, W.C. 2. Pages 182. Price sh. 4/6). In six interesting chapters: 1. Moving Pictures, A Social and Educational Force, 2. How Moving Pictures Interpret Life, 3. The people who make moving Pictures, 4. Rating Scales, Reviews and Criticisms, 5. Moving Picture Clubs, 6. More to be done and numerous UnparalM Quality Note the Striking Bargain Size H yds. x 47 1/2" Rs. lO Special Divali Concession for one month only. Musi of Ihi" Ladies in India and abroad, are wearing latest style guaranteed unshrinkable and fast coloured Georgette Beautiful Saris, in appcarence worth Rs .">(! at amazing low price, lovely new ran go of fashion -hades, li 1 I p.c. dis count U> lady students. Postage and packing fieu to a purchaser oi .i saris at a time. Apply sharp to '• Indian Georgette Saris Macfg . Co ot India i Dept F. I. ) Post Box No. f 79 Bombay. sub-headings, this useful little book is written with an authority that commands respect. It will interest all students of the film industry, as the book provides plenty of thought provoking material.. "THE CINEMA AS A GRAPHIC ART" (By: Vladimir Nilsen. Published by: George Newnes Ltd., Southampton St., London, W.C. 2, 227 pages. Price 15sh.) This is a book that divulges all the possibilities of a cameraman becoming a creative artist. Written by a famous cameraman the book treats film photography as a creative art and discusses and points out numerous methods of approach and composition which make the pictures actually live in the lives of the people. The book should be read by every conscientious amateur and professional in India. DIALOGUE-WRITERS OR STREET PEDLARS ? (Continued from page 45) interpreting human emotions is an art. Those producers who think that any Hindi or Urdu knowing man can write the dialogues for our pictures are living in a fool's paradise. Good dialogue writing Is a reward of years of patient work In this direction. Any young man coming from the North and claiming lineage with Iqbal or Premchand can't become a dialogue writer in a day. Dialogue writing is an expert's job. It is a profession that needs severe preliminary training1 and the producers and the directors must respect this profession more than they have been doing hitherto. Good dialogues add a soul to the theme and give a gilt to a picture. And they can only result when the writer and those who demand the writing sign a compact of mutual understanding and achieve harmony. Our producers must learn to know their dialogue-writers more in future, 63