Home Movies (1943)

PACE 240 HOME MOVIES FOR AUCUST PARADE OF MUSICAL HITS 16mm. Sound Films — 100 Ft. Lengths Featuring outstanding orchestras and headline performers. 18 titles, including I AM AN AMERICAN sung by Carolyn Marsh MINNIE THE MOOCHER with Cab Calloway EL RANCHO GRANDE starring Barry Wood tv'.cNAMARA'S BAND— Gus Van SMILES — Tommy Reynolds Orch. LET ME OFF UPTOWN— Gene Krupa Orch. BOXCAR RHAPSODY with Borrah Minevitch and his Harmonica Rascals SALE PRICE : S7.50 per subject Dealer Discount Available Note: For non-theatrical use only. WALTER O. GUTLOHN, Inc. 25 W. 45th St. Dept. N-8 New York 19 THE FINEST TRIPOD EVER MADE the "PielukrU" If you've ever wanted a really fine tripod, now's your chance. The Albert • PRESIDENT" is a light weight, rigid tripod. Meets the most critical demands of the discriminating photographer. Features built-in swinging camera platform for vertical, horizontal or angle shots by the mere turn of a knob. Sturdy . . . portable . . . compact Unique leg lock permits working at any height. Reversible rubber-steel tips. A real value at S23. REVIEWS... of cAmateur film 4 B y S C H 0 E N A Miserable Merry Christmas," running 375 feet in 16mm. Kodachrome, was produced by J. E. Klopfer of San Francisco. The continuity is based upon an excerpt from the autobiography of Lincoln Steffens and concerns his experiences one Christmas v/hen he anticipated the gift of a pony from his father. In addition to the film, Mr. Klopfer has provided a recorded narrative on disc which describes the picture, as it plays on the screen, in the simulated voice of Lincoln Steffens. The picture begins with scenes of the lad completing a new stall in his father's stable for the pony that has been promised him. His father then takes him to see several ponies in a market place, and later they return home to await the arrival of the Pony Christmas Eve. On Christmas morn, the household awakes as one and speeds to the parlor to open gifts. The boy Steffens hastens to the stable but finds no pony there. Thinking his father has deliberately forgotten him, he weeps bitterly and even his mother's attempts to console him are futile. For him the whole world has crumpled about him. Then, the clatter of tiny hoofs are heard down the road and a small pony appears with a disheveled and drunk rider aboard. The rider engaged to deliver the pony dismounts before the boy and turns the pony over to him, saying he was delayed. The boy, overjoyed, rides the pony about the yard, and spends the day feeding and caring for it while his parents look on happily. While this picture was excellently photographed, it suffers one fault too often found in amateur produced continuities in which untrained actors are employed. That is a shortcoming of good acting on part of players. This is ■k EVERY filmer of amateur movies, whether a subscriber or not, is invited to submit his films to the editors for review and helpful criticism. This free service applies to any type of picture whether it be your first movie or a pretentious photoplay effort. Aim of this service is to help you make better pictures. Reviewed films will be rated I, 2 and 3 stars. Those rating 2 or 3 stars will receive Free an animated leader indicative of its merit. Best film reviewed each month will receive a special certificate award as the Movie of the Month. All films are returned promptly by insured express together with merit leaders and special analysis report. principally due to lack of adequate rehearsal. But when a lone filmer must be director, script clerk, cameraman, and electrician all at once, it is easy to realize how direction can suffer. We stress this point here because not only should amateur production of photoplays be strongly encouraged, but a greater responsibility should be taken in coaching the players who enact parts in such pictures. The chief acting faults are waving of hands and nodding heads instead of speaking definite lines and cold, "stiff" conduct of players. Another shortcoming was the lack of a transitional device to indicate the lapse of time from Christmas Eve to Christmas morning. The disc recorded narrative is well executed and the narrator's voice pleasing. The picture easily rated the 3 -Star merit leader awarded it. The Expectant Father" is an entertaining continuity based upon a good story idea suitable for general amateur filming. It runs 175 feet in 8mm. Kodachrome and was produced by George A. Valentine of Glenbrook, Connecticut. The story concerns a husband about to become a father. The big day has arrived and a nurse at the house has her hands full keeping the nervous husband quiet. Finally she induces him to go to the office. There he keeps everyone on edge, snatching at the telephone each time it rings, in anticipation of the big news. Finally his eight-year-old daughter telephones him to announce that quintuplets have been born. The husband faints and the office help revive him with a dash of cold water. "Quintuplets! He keeps muttering sadly. But the office help remind him he'll probably become famous, and rich • Continued on Page 26} PFNTRAI CA"ERArco5nce VLIl I ItflL 230T7Wa"bashTWe.. Chicago