Home Movies (1944)

'I '■'*., :". ■ .. ■ • Main title of the Movie of the Month produced by Robert G. Howard of North Hollywood, Calif. of U4, MOVIE oithe MONTH • The tramp discovers the picnickers, plans to draw them away by ruse so he can steal their food. • One picnicker remains behind to complete a special three-decker sandwich only to have it snatched away by the intruding tramp. • The picnickers give chase, and momentarily corner the tramp in the ladies' compartment of the park rest-room. • Cornered and almost drowned, the tramp is discovered to be the long lost husband of one of the picnickers, is rescued and fed. By J H . DeFINITELY a contender for the special achievement award for photography in Home Movies Annual Amateur Contest this year is Robert G. Howard of North Hollywood, California, whose 300 foot 1 6mm. black and white picture, A Fugitive From JustUs, is the Movie of the Month for September. Here is an amateur picture that can leave no doubts in the minds of its viewers that the producer has mastered all of the camera tricks of the professional. Good solid fundamentals of cinematographic technique are demonstrated throughout the picture. For instance, Howard uses dissolves but he uses them sparingly — doesn't clutter up the picture with the effect simply because he has mastered it; but more important, his dissolves are smooth and brief, almost imperceptible as they pass on the screen. The picture is notable for numerous closeups and these aid tremendously in telling the story, making subtitles entirely unnecessary. There is not enough variation in exposures from the opening scene to final fadeout to evoke comment from even the most critical observer, which is an achievement considering that the picture consists well over 100 exterior scenes, all undoubtedly shot over a period of weeks and under varying weather conditions. Introduced by an attractive series of opening titles, the picture begins with introductory shots of an approaching train. As the last box car vanishes from the scene, a tramp, having jumped from the freight, is seen getting to his feet ?nd brushing himself off. Taking a quick view of the surroundings, the tramo proceeds down the track and soon a closeup shows him slowing his Dace, his tired and aching feet evidently bothering him. S C H O E N The tramp observes a pond nearby and hastens over to sooth his burning feet in its cool waters. A closeup shows his feet, thrust into the water with shoes on, sizzling and sending up steam — a trick probably accomplished with dry ice or carbide in the water. The tramp's interest is aroused by odor of cooking food and he discovers a picnic party grilling hot dogs and spreading lunch under trees of the park adjacent to the pond. Pondering his dilemma a moment, he plans to draw off the picnickers by a ruse so that he can steal their food. Tossing a large boulder into the pond that echos a resounding splash, the tramp cries out for help. The picnickers, hearing his cries, hurry over toward the pond. The tramp bypasses them, and reaches the picnic table to discover a lone member of the party carefully preparing a multi-decker sandwich. Just as the man is about to bite into it, the tramp snatches it away from him and runs off. The returning picnickers by this time have discovered the tramp and give pursuit, forcing him to take refuge in the ladies' restroom some distance away in the park. He eludes them again, but only for a moment. The picnickers resume the chase and soon have him cornered at the brink of the pond. The tramp falls into deep water and is pleading for rescue when one of the women picnickers recognizes him as her long lost husband. The tramp is rescued and invited to join the picnickers. His wife offers him the choicest food on the table, even snatching another carefully prepared sandwich from the same man who earlier lost one to the intruder. The tramp is eating heartily while his several chil• Continued on Page 584 367