Home Movies (1943)

PAGE 310 HOME MOVIES FOR OCTOBER "Hey John . . I gotta borrow back my CRAIG EQUIPMENT!1 Now that Craig's entire output is being taken by the Army, Navy and by war contractors producing industrial training films, it's important to guard your Craig movie equipment carefully. With good treatment, it will provide you with movies of your home front activities for the duration, and for many years to come. After Shickelgruber and Tojo have been liquidated, your dealer's shelves will once again be stocked with new and improved Craig home movie equipment. CRAIG MOVIE SUPPLY COMPANY Los Angeles * San Francisco Seattle CRAIG JUNIOR COMBINATION Tome Movie Equipment makes Edila Pleasure — share yours with friends. CUT HOME MOVIE COSTS with BLACK and WHITE fine grain Semi-Orthochromatic Reversible Film for finest results — lowest cost. 16mm. Reversible Outdoor Film 100-ft. Roll, only $2.50 Rating Scheiner 18 8mm. Reversible Outdoor Film 25' Dble 8, only $1.25 Same day processing included. Ask your dealer or send money direct. Write for prices for developing and processing for 8mm. and 16mm. films bought elsewhere. VISUAL INSTRUCTION SUPPLY CORP. 1757 Broadway Dept. 12 Brooklyn 7, N. Y. REVIEWS... o( cAmateur film i B y S C H 0 E N While the film shortage has slowed production of new films, the situation has a commendable aspect in that it has encouraged wider interest in pictures already filmed. Many of the pictures now being received for review were photographed as early as 1940 and 1941. The makers, with a new-found interest in earlier filming efforts, have re-edited and titled them and through this work have not only continued active with their hobby, but have given life to many films that otherwise would receive the usual scant attention paid altogether too often to yesterday's movies. We wish that every amateur, whose movie making includes filming a record of his baby son or daughter, could witness a screening of "Grand Opening," produced by Sol Stolber of Philadelphia. Here is a fine example of how a record of baby can be embellished by interesting continuity to make the picture completely entertaining even to strange audiences. The story this picture presents is that of a young couple (Stolber and his wife) who have made movies of their young son and have invited friends and neighbors in for a premiere showing. Invitations are sent out and on the night of the show, everything is made ready — projector, screen, and phonograph for mood music. Soon guests begin to arrive. There's the usual greeting at the door, then visitors begin wandering about the house. Some admire then steal trinkets from a table, concealing them in a purse or trousers pocket. Others, greedily eat all the candy put out for the guests. The show begins. The husband operates projector while his wife manages the record player. Soon guests start yawning, become inattentive. Some are downright rude. On the screen are ie 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. intimate shots of the baby, and of the husband and wife as well as relatives dressing, feeding or amusing the child. A very professional touch is the manner in which Stolber flashes back to the operator or to the wife at the record player occasionally. In these scenes, they indicate awareness of their guests conduct. When the picture is over, the guests' dubious approbation is too obvious to their host and hostess. As the visitors take leave, they exclaim: "Best picture of the year!" "Marvelous!" "Stupendous!" "COLOSSAL!" After guests depart, the husband and wife are a little disappointed. But observing they still have one roll of unexposed film left, indicate they will try again. The final fadeout occurs as they snap out the room lights and ascend the stair to retire. The picture runs 300 feet in 8mm. black and white film. The photography was marred in several places by unsteady camera. However the skill with which the interiors were made, especially shots of the audience watching the projected picture, more than offsets this shortcoming. Titling and editing are both masterful jobs. The continuity idea, of course, is tops. "Grand Opening," is easily a 3 -Star picture and a merit leader indicative of this has been awarded its maker. Desert Playgrounds," produced by Paul Kassen of Los Angeles, easily demonstrates this filmer's excellent ability in cinetography, editing and titling. While no data accompanied the film to indicate make of camera and description of lenses used, it is obvious that Kasstn's equipment is of the best. His photography has that sharp, clear quality of the professional's and his exposures are always "on the nose," to use the • Continued on Page ))}