Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1952)

MOVIE MAKERS 69 This department has been added to Movie Makers because you, the reader, want it. We welcome it to our columns. This is your place to sound off. Send us your comments, complaints or compliments. Address: The Reader Writes, Movie Makers, 420 Lexington Ave., New York 17, N. Y. ODD FILM WIDTHS Gentlemen: May I ask your editorial board a question? I have noticed that in the October number mention is made of the following film widths, amongst others: 22, 21, 15 and 11 millimeters. Would you be good enough to tell me when these widths were introduced and by what companies? I have never come across them before. L. Barnato, ACL London, England Sorry, but we don't have the answers. These, and other non-standardized film widths, were first brought to our attention in a press story released by the Eastman Kodak Company in July, 1948, to mark the 25th Anniversary of the advent of 16mm. reversal film. If you are interested in tracking this down further, we suggest applying to The Curator, George Eastman House, 900 East Avenue, Rochester, N. Y. Opened in November, 1949, as a memorial to George Eastman, Eastman House is charged with gathering and preserving historic memorabilia of photography. LIKE "FANCY FREE" Dear Mr. Charbonneau: With the feeling that you might be interested in the reception of In Fancy Free, 1951 Maxim Award winner, by members of the Amateur Motion Picture Society of Denver, ACL, here is a brief report: Before screening the film, I impressed on our members that Glen Turner, ACL, had been making movies only a few years, most of them on 8mm., and that he was a true amateur. Then we put the film on and I noticed that the audience was absolutely silent throughout. At the end there still was a moment of silence — and then thunderous applause. I predict that this is going to be the most talked-about picture in the ACL Club Film Library! Markley L. Pepper, ACL President Amateur Motion Picture Society, ACL Denver, Colo. Dear ACL: Here at the Greater Denver Cinema League we had to run In Fancy Free twice, so many were our members who wanted to see it again. I personally believe it is one of the best films of the artistic type I have seen. Generally this sort of thing leaves you feeling sort of blank. But here the photography, score and artistic talent merge into a beautiful piece of work. William C. Kirk, ACL Past President Greater Denver Cinema League, ACL Denver, Colo. Dear Mr. Charbonneau: Speaking for our entire membership and their guests attending our annual banquet last night, let me thank you very much for the privilege of showing Glen Turner's 1951 Maxim Award winner, In Fancy Free. I know our members join me in approving wholeheartedly ACL's selection for the 1951 Maxim Award. Mr. Turner's film was beautifully done, and it is living testimony that amateurs have only touched on the creative art possible through a camera lens. Dale E. Bevard. ACL President 8-16 Home Movie Makers, ACL Kansas City, Mo. Dear ACL: We would like to express our appreciation for and admiration of In Fancy Free, the superb Maxim Award winner for 1951 by Glen H. Turner. ACL. Mr. Turner has developed his poignant theme in settings and action such as the best in Hollywood can only equal — but not surpass. Howard A. Moore, ACL Program Chairman Camera Click Club. ACL Denver, Colo. "DIFFICULTIES!" Dear Mr. Moore: It grieves me to have to take an exception to an article by you in the January issue of Movie Makers. The article I refer to is Should Difficulties Decide? While the point taken in the article is absolutely and irrevocably correct (so much so that the question should never have been raised in the first place), it nevertheless is unfortunate and casts suspicion on me as a poor loser. That is the part I resent. Everyone knows, thanks to a letter published during the summer (which by the way was aLered some), that probably the most difficult filming job undertaken during the year was my own filming of a boat trip through the Grand Canyon. That well-publicized fact, together with the fact that my film did not win, will cause a great number, if not all, of your readers to wrongfully assume that it was I who raised the question. Nothing could be further from W-l-D-E ANGLE ANASTIGMAT F:2.7 Focal length; IS mm and longer ANASTIGMAT ^mps^ F:2.3 Focal length: 35 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm These fine lenses are made by skilled technicians with many years of optical training. Designed for use in 16 and 35 mm film cameras, they are corrected for all aberrations at full opening and give highest definition in black-and-white and color. For illustrated catalog and complete details write Dept. MM-1. Quality Lens for over half a century C. P. GOERZ AMERICAN OPTICAL COMPANY K 'Office and factory J 317 EAST 34th STREET 1 NEW YORK 16, N. Y.