XD14224 1937 BELL AND HOWELL FILM “ HOW MOTION PICTURES MOVE AND TALK ” 16mm & 35mm FILM PROJECTORS (Print 2)

This 1937 film was produced by the Bell and Howell Company (:16) in order to promote the 16mm film format for home use. The film explains the basic principles of motion pictures and shows how sound is recorded onto a strip of film. It opens with footage of female hula dancers (:40) and an airplane flying low near one of the Great Pyramids of Egypt (:45). The White House (:57) and former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt are pictured (1:01). A large projector in use during a theater film feature is shown (1:15) as well as a small 16mm projector in use in a residential home (1:20). Footage is shown of a small boy playing with a dog (1:37) which is slowed down to show it is comprised of a series of slightly different pictures (1:42) — and that motion is perceived through the phenomenon known as persistence of vision. An optical illusion of a card with one side showing a bird and the other showing a bird cage is demonstrated by spinning the card quickly which makes the bird appear to be within the cage (1:57). Historical footage of Thomas Edison, the inventor of the first talking motion picture follows (2:18). An animation artist is shown drawing the images to be used for a cartoon on an animation stand (2:29). These images are photographed and printed onto a transparent strip of celluloid film (2:47). A close up shot of a projector follows (2:59). Essential parts of the projector include the pre-focused light source (3:02). The revolving shutter is pointed to in action in slow motion (3:31) as well as is regular speed (4:27). A cameraman operates a camera which records the images to be shown through the projector (5:08). The punches which produce the sprocket holes that control the film’s movement are zoomed in on (5:17). Footage is shown of a composite scene meaning it had been made from two separate pictures (5:29). Next, the movie discusses how sound is added onto 35mm films (5:47). Variable density tracks are pointed to (5:50). These could be reduced to the smaller 16mm films (6:03). A film strip is passed through a focused beam of light produced from an exciter lamp (6:11). The volume control is used to turn up the light and increase the sound (6:15). A demonstration follows of exactly how the sound track was added onto this particular film (6:48). Audio recordings for the narration of the film is conducted after the film has already been edited (6:55). Film is shown being threaded up for a take in the recording room (7:00). The negative is pointed to which will have the sound recorded onto it (7:04). The monitor man is shown at the control board (7:08) and the narrator of the film is pictured while reading from his script into the microphone (7:16). Another demonstration follows of film being recorded with picture and sound captured simultaneously (8:08). The scene is recorded in Hollywood at the Grand National Studios (8:14). Development of negative film conducted in machinery follows (8:35). After the film has been cut and edited, the picture and sound negatives are printed together (9:11). A stack of completed film reels called “Any Old Love” are pictured at (9:21). 35mm films are then shown which are of a ten-reel feature production (10:12).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com

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