1947-08-08 — Page 2

2

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Under the spell of a Jewelled Goddess

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SYDNEY (Fat-Man)

GREENSTREET

GERALDINE (Strange Wama) -

FITZGERALD

PETER (Lime Master)

LORRE

Three

Strangers

THE YEARS BIG MYS

MASTERPIEC

JOAN LORRING (DELLIE ELLIS) HONGKONG BORN MOVIE STAR HAS ANOTHER PROMINENT ROLE IN THE THREE STRANGERS"

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Barbara

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Lady of

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IN TECHNICOLOR Starring LAURENCE OLIVIER

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MDJAKIM TAMIRGEF ARTURO DE CORDOVA, JOSEPH CALLEIA KATINA PAXINOU

PRODUCTS AND SAM WOOD

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IN TECHNICOLOR

· COMMENCING. TO-MORROW

Walt DISNEY'S

"BAMBI” in Technicolor

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1947.

FACT AND IN THE

EVERAL things happen-

AND FICTION

CINEMA

been through the actual experiences factory). Noel Coward's "In Which depleted.

We Serve," about the Navy, Carol Films such as these showed how fleed's-"The Way Ahzad." about much can be done to revent detall Army recruits, Anthony Asquith's of character without using actors. "The Way To The Stars." about the They had a peculiar sincerity and British and. American Air Forces authenticity, and through then in- And Lasit Dearden's The Captive cidentally,

of the sation's Heact," about Beltish, prizoners of Intent talent was discovered.

In these there However, these methods

are a a far

stress on plat indivi- from Cry from

the original conception of dual

and characterisations,

the documentary, though they are a parts were played by professional

some

war in

the spirit animating the whole

anent was profoundly true.

synthesis

into

POCKET CARTOON

Then I spent four years

"In India-

BY TH WAY

"The documentary ed during World War II

method may be as a result of which the British cinema has changed

described as the birth and developed, winning 3

of creative cinema," strong position for Itself in this

said Paul Rotha. new peacetime era. While the

War has pushed the number of fiction films made was drastically reduced, their 'documentary film to a quality reached a high stan- high level of dard. New personalities came

direct development of the tendencies actors and stars. But the authenti- development, and to the fore, among them

to humanise documentary which had city of detall was beyond reproach, extended its influence emerged before, the war. But. people who had grown up in

Edgar Anstey has written: "The one British

studios, attaining

to the fictional

test which every doc

documentary film Some documentary directors maturity in the hard school of branch of film-making. must pass can still be summed up themselves turned to Action Alm wartime filming, and at the

in the question-Is it true?* Truth

them The current trends, in

production, among

Harry on the ctern is the objective a1 Watt and A. Cavalcanti, who hod same time the young British

Watt and both factual and

which to atm, employing whatever long been

advocating cinema itself began to come

fictional films`is

means may be most sullable, and lo-between documentary and Action of age, acquiring style and

photograph the real thing may not alm technique, in the bellef that national character. Above all, discussed here by

necessarily bring out the full flavour only by introducing reallim

dramatic fiction films achieved * new

Action films ean the full standard of realism and truth- CATHERINE DE LA ROCHE nowers of the cinema be developed. Towards the end of the war Harry fulness, and this was largely due to the growing influence Anstey's "Housing Problems," of on vent. To reach a final effect Wait went to Australia to make a

that would

epitomise would of documentaries, the produc- the microphone was taken into reality is clearly a creative pro- British Commonwealth's war effort

Ccss."

and at the same time districts to re-

reveal Its tion of which has quadrupled working class

his without character. He hosed In many of these documentaries, national cord the unrehearsed 'words of as compared to 1939.

whether short or full-length, pro- in. "The Overlanders" on the true the unemployed But the recent development dwellers,

and sum sinal actors were also employ- story of the 2.000-mile trek made in there could have been no fun achieving

quin it. million head of cattle new ed. In il Craigle's film, "The Wry 1942 when a of documentary in Britain is

Live," for instance, quality of realism.

which is was

the continent

Now when I was Treasurer of the not to be accounted for only

about the

plan for reconstructing away from the Japanese. and wove

Merseyside Fish-Sqrters Co-opera- Cavalcanti by the exigencies of war. Docu-

many Plymouth, a profesional takes the a personal story through it, shootington and the brothers Fajello play. in fact, main imaginative innovations in the leading part as a writer-observer, the entire flin on the locations mentary

cd Yvas de Saint Trogue's "Atlan was. taining the leadership it has use of sound and music, notably white all the people of Plymouth the trek. This is a grandiose out-

door epic, full of action, excitement ide" at the Salle Pleyel in Paris. There came a moment when they held for over a decade. In the in "Coal Face," for which the are natural types,

Britten

ilko de- By the end of the war, no rigid and romance.

jabbed at the pedal, latter 1930's it had become a composer. Benjamin

mented cyclists. Serafin vigorous and successful branch wrote the score. And John conventions survived in the making

ot documentaries. Naturai

types Important Advance but got a hack on the ankle from Londoners," of the film Industry, winning Taylor's "The

and locations were used where they were most suitable, and so were re- international recognition, while which combined

pinyers, fiction film production was go. mentary and personal inter- constructions and talented

novices. ing through bad phase. view, included a sequence which whether professionals or When, with the war, the. de. had been staged and shot in a mand for films of fuct and ac- studio.

a

tuality increased, It was natural that documentary already the healthiest branch should not only develop, but extend its influence outside its own sphere.

made

verse,

com-

nating

movra ucross

In Filmcraft

Silm

the

nf

by Beachcomber

bout

RECENT pianoforti duo:

at

a concert plissed off accident. Therefore

:

wero

brother Ferez. The rhythm went to bits, several wrong notes struck, the critles cried, "Too much NOTHER outstanding

Is rubato!" the, pubile, not knowing Therold Dickinson's "Men Of what had happened, went on looking Two Worlds," a grand-scale colour dreamy, the pedal came off Sera The full-length front-line docu- production largely shot on location, flu fructured the bones of his elbow menaries such as "Desert Victory" It deals win the struggle against against the wood-work. Perez, try- being ing to attend to brother Serann, "Burma Victory," the Incomparable sleeping sickness which is

The important thing is that they did pass the test, "Is it true?"

"The True Glory and many others together in East Africa, and has a left wrist.

by Europeans and Negroes fell off his stoot and strained his

were compiled entirely

from

were

enn

Enormous Film

Is that all? asks the Programme

Well, It's all I actional story dramatising the many reader. material filmed on the actual loca- conflicting issues involved. The think of at the moment as the man bor the leading MEANWHILE, very tena- tions of events. These were in the

played by the stars said when he told the woman parts tradition of the original documen-

Portman and house was on are, in order to cadge tively, the documentary

the Phyllis Calvert, Erle showed not only lary. They

nes Robert Adams, a Negro. The Art an introduction. The founder and pioneer of approach was creeping into highest degree of imaginativeness

Tom

Morahan, achieved the part of the the documentary movement in fictional films such as Carol on

front-line Director,

astonishing constructional Tortoise ridden backwards remarkable some Britnin is John Grierson, Reed's "Bank Holiday" cameramen, but also a

round Ashford advance in dynamic editing and the triumphs for this film, building im whose first film, "Drifters," and Victor Shville's dy

better mense sets in wartime Airica, where made in 1929, pointed the way "South Riding."

But in these use of what, for want of a

ised most of the usual materials term, can be called

"charGlory

HOSE who sneer at the activi The True

unavailable.

Itles of Evans the Hearse, the in which documentary was to the realistic background and narrative." In

in turn by Peter Ustinov's latest picture,

wizard of Aberhananer, inny fave develop., The film, which dealt social environment never be the verbal story was told in

different voices representing men "School For Secrets," is also a fic- read that a man "intends to sto with the North Sea herring cume genuinely integrated into differ catch, gave more than a mere the story, as they did later in from each of the Services that took tional film based on fact. It tells down the Niagara river in a rubber

Ralph of Radar, with part in the European Campaign. It the story

bull"

What about skating on stilts description, it showed the many wartime. films. Robert is interesting that some of Britain's Richardson (of the "Old Vic") in frun Glossop to Widnes?

as the leading role, and some genuine drama that underlay this Flaherty's "Elephant Boy" was beat fletion film directors, such routine work and the poetic a notable

that Roy Boulting and Carol Reed, and Marine Commandos in the east, who He stooped to conger exception, in

mysterious fiction Alm script writers such as re-ennct one of their qualities of ships and elements. Kipling's story was woven into Erie Ambler,

the raids. participated in

AYORESHIREMAN, says my It was an indication of what real documentary--but then whaking of these films,

Films of fact have grown tremen- paper, caught two conger cels Grierson meant by his defini- Flaherty is a pioneer of duen-

dously iri popularity, and there is a with his hands while walking along As If that interest the ahoro at Whitby. tion of documentary ns "the mentary.

correspondingly Increased in themes of public importance in were not enough, "a cat was saved creative interpretation

British flm studios. The advance after three days on the top of a tree in Almeraft as a whole is probably nt North Shield."

reality."

Learnt From Experiment

of

There was little time to experi- ment in new techniques during the war. Apart from the huge demand

Films On Social Problems

an important factor. In popularising Prodnasc: Why do you say "As if

the the more serious type of picture,

for instructional and techicul films, AT the same time fims on social which comprise a separate branch problems emphasised by

Movement. of the

documentaries

full- and in raising the general level of that we not enough"? Rotha's war, such as Paul turned had to be

his appreciation. and length "World Of Plenty and rapidly in large numbers for specifle needs, latest "Land Of Promise," dzaling and developments in technique were with world

food distribution and

out

was sponsored by the Ministry these and many others.re "To- "treated as un integral part of the

Had

moving

new

diagrams

and

.

the

Myself: It is an old phrase in There have been notable develop-

decor my family when we are nearing the ments in film music and in

Matheson, leading end of our tether, DURING the next few years largely an outcome of these needs. Britain's housing problem respec- design. Mulr

Prodnose: And how did the cla a great advance, in musical director, and Paul Sheriff, $1 small group, working and the conditions prevailing.

tively, showed

state art director ("Henry V" and "Schul get there? The most imperlant part

stressed sch under his supervision, learnt

In For Secrets") have often argument. ment of fact and

be Myself; Where? their technique as a result of Britain's wartime documentary out the use of the cinema for

Including Catinusic and decor must pul 19 their own experiments. The Information.

Prednese: Whitby, which

Robin Carruthers, the Middle script and not as mere background." films they made were sponsor- Encrinos i was pubitcise the art Supply Centre, animated maps This has been the approach in most Myself: They Awam from ed either by Government de- ject of which was to East work and

uf Illustrating the best British pictures. Lead- nation's war effort and the partments, major industries or nat

special Belgian Conger. written various ing composers have of the three Fighting Services. Sub- geographical facts

important public utilities, and most of

jects ranged

to great statistics were used with such skill music for most of the them dramatised thenies of military

otherwise epics. In

im that what would

have declinentaries and realist features, What should “A” do?

have come to films and some of them problems

CINCE nothing makes sense today. man mediate and specific cominon labour, setting

of bien the driest part of the

specialise

music. entirely in fim evolve Du became the liveliest.

a man staggered into a rallway "Desert against his background of in- filming, and striving to

Alwyn's music in would

have the

Ancad," compartment and sat down heavily and Out of the use of factual story in

"The inakers

Way

with.hls dustrial or agricultural work. approach, that

widest public appeal, film

documentary there developed also Cufton Parker's

in "estern Ap-wiping his lips

"Have you After 1935, as the

ever seen before?" of of availed themselves more fully range

the use of fictional story for whether subjects widened, there appear- various existing methods,

Arthur Blisa's in "wien Two

Jim.

said the traveller ing a growing tendency to they were in the original documen- generalising specific aspects of exist. prendran on The asked the traveller me bef

"Then how the "dovil for example, dealt with the life of Worlds," make a genuine contribu documentary, tary tradition or not.

tion to the dramatic construction nervously.

asked t did you know it was me? intruder. in a dramatic stury, and was

ed

humanise

sa solving

Together, reality. "Journey

especially in the work of A. Subjects Called For cadets in Flying Draining or made of all these stories.

Cavalcanti and Harry Watt.

If the early films showed

ms

ח'

entirely by Royal Air Force person- A Story

number

On

umong whom were a

Jack of professional film

people. that social problems and man's THE bigger subjects called for a Lee's new picture about Juvenile

existence in the story true story, the

"Chlidren On people delinquency, struggle for

Trial" symbolised thou- also has a fictional story based far corners of the earth and in which mostly

same tact It is as difficut us It is at the factory bench had more sands of others doing the

atory pointless to try und. establish drama and poetry in them than kind of wartime job-but a

all the same. In other respects, too, dividing line between these pictures any fotional tale, the later the treatment had similarities with and entirely factual Blms, ör

be introduced, in addition, fellow im technique.

tween them and the fictional Alms

which have been! something of the personal A large port ef Harry Wattk based on fact

Bom- made us entertainment pictures by background of the human be- Target fer Tonight," about

and the ing involved, and integrated it ber Command, was shot in a studio, Hature im studios. The difference, with the picture's subject.

and meth all parts were play is a ed by members of Royal Air Force portant thing is that in endeavour- In Harry Watt's "Night Frews, who were seen carrying out lng to achieve the highest degree of

a branch of 1 their truth and reallsm, normal acrvice. duties, Mail" and "North Sea," ere dialogue was

documentary and a

branch

of fic- rehearsed, not Im-

drawn closer to- was the outline of a story, as promptu.

have in Jack Lee's "Close

Hims

the distinct from straight narra. Quarters."

the story of a submarine gether, cuch benehting by tive, and the people were patroi, Edward Carrick, the Crown methods of the other.

Film Unit Art Diricior, did 4 Throughout the war, feature film handled more searchingly and remarkable jeb It reconstructing studios in Britain produced a large such as personally. This meant new the

In submarine

number of realistic pieturen mobile sections

Demetrio. Frend's in technique, which served as studio sets for the Charles developments

on ព true story There was less commentary film. The full-length colour docu-Landon," based and

recorded entary, Western Approaches," on about a tanker, Gilliat and Faun- more directly.

Va.". about the other hand, was shot almost en- der's "Millions Like speech. In Arthur Diton's rely on Incation, with a selected munition workers (a large part of Ordnance "Workers & Jobs" and. Edgar emt of merchant seamen who had which was shot in ant

NANCY

Why Bother?

NURSERY

TREE

NURSERY

San

12

44

CROSSWORD

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(7)

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20. A tricky bird > 141

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todent. 101.

2

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Warning. (3)

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d. agres met hold animais CAD-

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Bee | AcroJN.

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101

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The spirited part of singer, (3)

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23. Ainus two siden, 131

Across i and Down Wing the alarum T7, the end of the hour 131

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7. it provides a hit at beatz- (9)

12. Antina),

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Solution of yesterday's outzio -Astusij 1. Banter: 5, Pop: 1 Arora, de

14. Nearu Ocutraction for brother. 15. Autor 10. Stem 10, Bos: 19. vm.

(4).

18: Pasturage. 31450:23. Into; 24. Toa; 25. Brmpathy, 18. The Iron to bring home theater de Passage; 6. Perennia

A 21. Pršina: 0, Aerie: bacon (3jM 17. This Lent i diligently applied. 10, passt. 49. vii.

Torrent; 10, Mimar 18. JANU

Fo, Topt #1; . (2) 14 Not a short pine ? (4122, 227.

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