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FIVE BEST BOOKS I HAD TO THROW AWAY THIS WEEK
Slide-Tape and Dual
Projection. Ray Beaumont-Craggs, Focal Press 1975. A book full of good
advice and practical wisdom. Somewhat otiose since I was made to dispose of
my second slide projector, and dual projection became a memory. No library mark, but 75p pencilled on
flyleaf.
Sound Sense for Movie Makers by Ivan Watson
- a great little casebound
treasure trove from Focal press1973 originally held by Lewisham libraries but
released onto the market in an entirely above-board albeit foolish move,
whence aquired 1974 from Kirk booksellers in Sydenham, 1974. Time moves on
though, and although the wild-sound on Standard eight advice still holds
water, this is a distinctly pre-digital dose of audio sanity. Some pictures,
or rather plates.
Film and Its Techniques - Spottiswood. This
is the standard work, but it dates back to 1953 in my edition. The attention
to detail in production practice for 35mm black and white films, which
Spottiswood lovingly recounts, belies the quality we have to put up with in
Night of the Living Dead, for example [see below]. But perhaps itÕs a travesty the
budget shopper has to accept. One time property of West Yorkshire County
Library, thence by some rough magic to the Oxfam shop in Exeter. Some respite
care in my collection (able to bide-a-wee in the lavatory) Ð and, greatly
invigorated, back onto the market! Spine sound.
The History of British
Civilization Ð Wingfield Stratford. Two names but only one author. possibly
left leaning progression through a large number of pages would be helped by a
sewn-in bookmark. Has proved useful for weighing things down while glue sets,
and boasts exceptionally good quality paper for a book of its type. Poor
type.
Law Reports Index 1981 Ð 1990. Does exactly what
it says on the tin. A specialist finely bound tome from the area of human
endeavour described by Kafka as Òspiritual sawdustÓ. This really is a first
class book in every area except content. To think Morrocan Red used to be a
binding.
TEN BEST DVDs FROM POUNDLAND
What Lives Below Ð half baked
underground horror with a discernable plot. Digital transfer from a very
grotty print brings all the little dustmotes back to sparkling life. Cast
have orange flesh. Or the flesh has an orange cast. Either way, itÕs not
TerryÕs, itÕs mine!
Night of the Living Dead / Revenge of the
Zombies aka Fleshcreepers vol 1. double feature This pairing appear to
have been filmed through the same used teabag Ð howÕs that for budget cinema?
In and out of focus are hegemonic expressions, I will not be tied to such
tyranny. Revenge of the Zombies is a WW2 / Zombie army / Third Reichpotboiler requiring a full on taste-bypass to get through
the opening credits. Could be rewarding, but only if sold.
Little Shop of Horrors. Extraordinary
glimpse into a recent past where all our social mores seem to be stood on
their heads. A young Jack Nicholson turns in a performance in comparison with
which Robin Williams might be found guilty of underacting. Roger Corman takes
the directorial blame.
The Last Time I Saw Paris Ð glorious colour,
sumptuous sound, and kept rigorously 120 frames apart throughout
Humphrey Bogart, Gina Lolla, Bee
Rigider, Peter Lorre, Jennifer Jones, Robert Morley, in Beat the Devil - The great John
Huston directs a wry and rather arch ball of confusion which had me thinking
of Blithe Spirit in the way husbands and wives dished it out to each other. Shot
in moody monochrome which makes it more monotonous.
Road to Bali a late-onset
Road
episode filmed in ravishing colour. I found it surprisingly risque for 1952
that and more than a tad post-modern with HopeÕs mugging through the camera
directly to the audience, acknowledging the fictive artifice he inhabits and
knocking seven bells out of any though of Ôprofilmic eventÕ. Lamour is great
value and the ethno-tourism lavish. All in all a package holiday in a very
cheap package.
©
Robert Joyce 2003
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