CINE BOOKS GALORE
One of the delights of the hobby of 'proper' movie making is collecting, and reading, some of the extensive literature on the subject published over the last half century or more. A selection of my small library is shown above. The collected works provide a combination of both fascinating historical detail, and very good practical advice.

One of the earlier booklets shown is the Bell & Howell Movie Guide from 1955 - published in Philadelphia - I see that I paid £1 for it, no doubt in a second hand bookshop - probably in Hay. I have found that all of these books can be obtained through abebooks.co.uk - a splendid website for second-hand book wants. I include the Bell and Howell Book because it illustrates my first projector and camera which I inherited form my Aunt. I discount my father's 16mm Kodak and Paillard Bolex G3 which I never really used to originate films upon. Like many of the books from the 50s, the ladies are shown being actively involved in the film making and editing process - whether that is to promote domestic harmony - or to suggest how simple the process is, I leave to the reader to judge!  Accompanied by the basic Sundial Camera I was delighted with the results - from 1970 onwards - which are still crystal clear thanks to its excellent prime lens. However it has to be said light output from the projector was limited and a completely dark room and relatively short throw essential.

The Kodak Guide: 'How to make Good Movies' is the most substantial of those illustrated. It runs to 93 A5 pages, on good gloss paper, and was written by Kenneth Tydings (SPE?). Some 19 Chapters cover first the mechanics such as  film, loading, shooting speeds, aperture control and focusing; then lighting, the World of Colour - spelt in American of course as Color. Planning and making a movie. Editing draws the book to a close with a look at B&H's sound equipment and Electric Eye Cameras.

 

The Kodak book is is mysteriously hard to date - presumably because the company wanted it to run for some time. Judging by the camera - a Cine Kodak 8mm and the fashion styles it is no later than the early 50s and may well be a 40s publication. 

 

 

In our politically correct world the Book's 'he and she' illustrations would have an editor rapidly reaching for the erase button!

 

He: " 'How to make Good Movies' - here's the book we want to read, all right"

She: " Our movies seem pretty grand to me just the way they are. Why bother about reading a book?"

Note the pipe - cigarette box and ash-tray!

 

When it comes to the menial tasks -  it is undoubtedly the lady's hands that are servicing the camera!

The book runs to 229 pages - and includes extensive photographs and illustrations, and of course such good advice as: If you must panoram ... . your camera should record action not provide it... . it's the reflected light that counts ... .

 and it is of course the ladies who are in charge of projection!

 

One of the scarcer books is that by Ivan Watson: 'What shall I film' - some Web dealers are asking in excess of  £25 for a mint copy. Published by Fountain Press it retailed at £3 in 1975 - which is what I paid for it in Bath - and I am sure would merit re-publication - as 'Uncle Ivan' was always entertaining, and thoroughly sound in the advice he gives.

The sub-title of the book is: 'How to find ideas for movies'. Part One covers: 'Home Movies don't have to hurt' and begins with: 'Look it's baby on the lawn'; moving on to: 'Keep it in the family' then 'Ding Dong the bells are gonna chime'; and: 'This is where we stayed - Home Movies with a difference'. Part Two looks at the challenge of fiction films; and part three at documentaries and other films. Finally: 'Think, write, shoot and edit' - echoing Lynne Truss perhaps - you may wonder who was to be shot -the stars or the director!

 

 

The ephemera of movie making can be equally fascinating - whether it is the old packaging of film, or the dated language of an old camera guide, or the hysterically funny translations from Japanese or Russian in their early manuals.

 

 

The Collins Nutshell Books are now becoming collectable - but the cover illustration of a monkey playing with a Bolex seems to imply that cine is so easy a monkey could do it! This Guide dates from 1964 - then priced at 5/= (25p). As it says on the cover flap: 'recent advances in the design and manufacture of cine cameras have made them cheaper, more versatile and easier to use than ever before'. Was this Guide updated I wonder after the advent of Super 8? Derek Townsend... a cine photographer of wide professional experience ... shows how simply one  can become an expert in this fascinating hobby." - Would that were so!

 

For excellent all round advice the Focal Cine Books were - are - excellent - and the one on Holiday Films should be compulsory reading for all home movie directors - especially of the video fraternity! It cost 10/6 in 1964 for the third edition - having been first published in 1954. The illustrations are line drawings, which look dated today - but there are 120 pages of excellent tips which would improve anybody's holiday efforts!

There is so much to enjoy in the hobby in the winter evenings - whether or not the projector is alight!

Tom Halliwell - October 2004