Tony Gaudio Honored

assi1rncd by Twentieth Century-Fox to background, bringing out the beauty of be responsible for the subject's produc­ the setting, materially enhances the tion, with that responsibility resting on appearance of the players. his shoulders. Yet as a matter of fact, "If you would give your players the outside of his work with Kodachrome advantage of color you must be careful and in two-color film he was unacquainted of your lighting," declared Palmer. with the mass of details that flow along The cinematographer's first camera with a three-color Technicolor subject. work was with the old Imp company Regular Happening in New York. The Imp, so called because He realized there hardly was a month its full name was Independent Moving or week when a similar situation does Pictures, was the company which marked not arise in the studios clustered about the entrance of Carl Laemmle into the Hollywood. Naturally after a quarter production side of the industry. So also century behind a professional studio was it the father of Universal. camera he wanted the best product ob­ Making "Ivanhoe" in Wales tainable. To guarantee as close an ap­ proach to that end as was possible he Its studio was in Eleventh avenue in decided to go to Technicolor and seek New York City. In it many players to acquire as much information as was since well known had their introduction possible before the beginning of shooting. to the motion picture public. With the to make Palmer chose to go to the tops in the company that went abroad of Her­ way of authority en the camera work of "Ivanhoe," under the direction and the players of which Technicolor. He sought out George bert Brenon by King Baggot, Palmer Cave, manager of the camera depart­ were headed Ernest Palmer as cameraman. It was one ment, and Robert Riley, his chief aid. accompanied of the first of the American companies First in the Twentieth Century-Fox to go abroad. man's mind was the identity of the man assistance in giving the benefit of the who was to be assigned to the picture information Technicolor had acquired Singularly enough, "Ivanhoe" was not by Technicolor. He was asked if Ray in the process field. photographed in Scotland but in Wales, Rennahan would be all right with him. Another point Palmer had noted in in New Chepstowe castle. It was in Assurance was prompt and hearty that the way of contrast between black and England that Palmer met George Loane nothing could be finer. There were many white work and in the field of color Tucker, for whom later at the Brunton consultations with one or all of the three is that where in the former the camera­ Studios in Hollywood he photographed men, with advice as to what to do and man in lighting co·ncentrates more on the famous "Miracle Man." what not to do. As a result there was the people on a set and the background One of the larger subjects Palmer a much different outlook on Palmer's part more or less is secondary it is different has made in more recent years was when it came time to undertake actual in shooting color. "Cavalcade," directed by Frank Lloyd. shooting. In the latter case the background This picture, in spite of its size and Told what Rennahan had said regard­ must not be secondary. In many in­ importance, was made in a comparative­ ing the co-operation that was evident stances bringing out the color in the ly short time, or on a short schedule. all through the making of the picture This achievement was due, the camera­ Palmer was agreed the remarks were man explained, to the thoroughness of absolutely true. He said if personally the director in preparation, to his he had erred in judgment Rennahan Tony Gaudio knowledge of English life a nd customs was quick to set him right. And when and manners, and to his real enthusiasm told Rennahan had praised the co-oper­ Honored for the story-an enthusiasm that might ation of Director Dave Butler again the be translated into inspiration. r eply was in affirmation. ORD has been r eceived in Herein Ernie Palmer undoubtedly has Palmer remarked it had been his good W Los Angeles by the Italian laid down the best analysis of why fortune to have photographed perhaps Consulate that Tony Gaudio, A.S.C., "Cavalcade" was voted in 1934 by the one-half or two-thirds of the pictures has been named by King Victor Academy membership the best produc­ Butler had directed and he had found Emmanuel III a cavaliere of the tion, the best directed picture and the Butler always thought first of the pic­ Crown of Italy. The cameraman subject that stood highest in the art ture and afterward of himself. has been in the United States since direction. And it was the period in Borzage Tips Butler 1908, and has in the intervening which the Academy had extended its years photographed many of the stated award term to December 31, Palmer recalled that when Fox made well known American players. " Seventh Heaven" in 1926-7 under the thereby lengthening that year from the Gaudio was direction of Frank Borzage the part of Two years ago usual twelve to fourteen months. photographic honors by Goban, the street sweeper, was most awarded So it is simpler to win as it must with his competently p layed by Butler- so com­ the Academy for work be more difficult to lose when the di­ Adverse." petently, in fact, that ,B'orzage during camera on "Anthony rector is a hound for preparation, for in his riper the course of the filming by Palmer Just to indicate that being before the start all set in his the tops had asked of Butler: "Why don't you years he is still among own mind what every sequence shall the Holly­ direct?·• it may be said that in contain and the order in which it shall wood Critics' poll for December to know the background It was shortly after that Butler ac­ be presented; releases he was awarded the high­ of the story as well as the traditions cepted the suggestion of Borzage. He est vote among the straight black and feeling s of the men and women began directing; and usually Palmer and white photographers for his who people it; to inspire his crew and was with him. camera work on "Dawn Patrol." players with his own enthusiasm. Another factor which contributed to There were two pictures that came the success of "Kentucky" in winning in ahead of him, but they were t he Hollywood Reporter's critics' poll Willoughby's, 110 West Thirty-second both in Technicolor. The Academy was t he excellence of the process shots street, New York, has been appointed restricts its awards to black and bv Solly Halperin, A.S.C., and of these distributors for the Miller Fold-O-Flector ther e ~•ere many. Here again Messrs. white subjects. Junior and the fras adjustable lens Cave and Riley were of inestimable shade and filter holder.

February, 1939 AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER 67