"By Sea To Florida, 400 ft., 16mm., made by Porter Varney of Bradenton, Fla., is a film record of a sea trip which derives its importance from the fact that the photography and choice of viewpoint are consistently exceptional. Parts of the ship, such as the rigging and cordage, the portholes, the lifeboat davits, etc., were used with rare artistry as aids to composition and effect. An expert use of filters produced exceptionally pleasing and truthful black and white rendition of the sea and the movement and sway of the ship. Continuity was effectually obtained by a shifting of the camera viewpoint, emphasizing the harbor, the high seas and the arrival in Florida. A startling climax to the film was given by a series of shots of an approaching hurricane captured by Mr. Varney 's intrepid camera." Movie Makers, Dec. 1931, 685.
"In Caineville, Glen H. Turner has now turned his camera on a Western ghost town, and with moments of sheer movie magic, he has brought it to life again. The slow turning by the wind of the leaves of an abandoned school book, and the slow pan to initials carved on a schoolhouse desk, evoke as if he were alive the youngster who carved them. In another scene, done with consummate smoothness, Mr. Turner shows an abandoned street on which a schoolboy, with books over his shoulder, slowly materializes into solid form — and then dissolves again into thin air. Surrounding Caineville always are the brooding mountains and the ever-encroaching river which implacably seeks to destroy the last vestiges of the crumbling village. Caineville is a triumph of imaginative creation over static material." Movie Makers, Dec. 1953, 320.
"Campus Smiles uses a playful tone to document the faculty, student body, and life at UW-Madison during the early 1920s. This documentary short is a compelling chronicle of the local culture at one of the nation’s largest universities and offers a glimpse into the undergraduate sphere of the immediate post-WWI era. In it, humorous intertitles penned in early twentieth-century American slang introduce campus personalities and comment on social events." Archive.org
"Down the Colorado River from Hite to the junction of the San Juan River in Colorado, via a power boat. This is a camping, sightseeing adventure in the deep canyons of the river. We are acquainted with the preparations for this trip Along the scenic canyon way of picturesque land and rock formations we stop to search out some of the birds, lizards, flora, and other life of interest to the nature lover. The placid and rugged beauty of this area contains some of the old Indian caves. From one of the campsites we go by foot to the famous Rainbow Bridge, a natural arch span of more than 300 feet. Canyons unlimited is an inspiration to those who love adventure" PSA Journal, Oct. 1962, 34.
"Once again Harry W. Atwood has used the desert locales of the Southwest and his mastery of outdoor color filming to mount a dramatic and exciting action picture. Although The Carabi Incident is truly an incident rather than a full-fledged photoplay, it does manage to include an abandoned mine, a lost prospector, a worried young girl and her companion — and both a happy and a tragic ending! The production is enriched with Mr. Atwood's usually fine selection of camera angles and suspenseful editing. For these reviewers, however, an excess of dialog subtitles was a drag on the film's development." Movie Makers, Dec. 1952, 341.
"If the lead title — Carolina Holiday — promises run-of-the-mill vacation footage, there is surely nothing else routine about this production. It is, rather, a rhapsody of color and a tone poem of contrasting moods, to which Henry K. Burns, jr., has brought fine technical skill and a perceptive eye for composition. Although rich in scenic beauty, his views are never static, for movement in a score of things — drifting fog, rustling leaves, an unexpected snow flurry — introduce animation unlooked for in the subject. An unfortunate commentary and hapless scoring (save toward the end) were detrimental to the film's achieving higher honors." Movie Makers, Dec. 1950, 466-467.
"Charles and Robert Coles showed a fine knowledge of the use of filters in their twin subject, 'Cascade and World's Fair.' Also they showed a grasp of composition and camera angles that was refreshing." American Cinematographer, Dec. 1933, 342.
"R. B. Clardy's 8mm picture 'Cattle Country' in 200 feet showed a consistency of photograpy, a fine understanding of composition and a smoothness of continuity that might have done justice to an experienced professional. Especially worthy of comment were his titles. Because of his outstanding work Clardy was given the gold medal for Scenario Pictures as well as the gold medal for Photography." American Cinematographer, Dec. 1933, 321.
"Harley H. Bixler, a technician, has been inspired with the might of America, and he has interpreted it according to his lights. In Cavalcade of America, taking our entire country as his canvas, he has painted in, with striking chromatic images, the physical and industrial high lights of our heritage. Here are the sinews of strength, awaiting only the activating force of human endeavor to turn them to the path of power. Here are the mills and the mines, the oil and the electricity, the farms and the factories without equal in our modern world. Mr. Bixler interprets his fine pictorial document with a narrative that is usually vivid but sometimes matter of fact and accompanies the whole with recorded music. Cavalcade of America is a striking study of a tremendous subject." Movie Makers, Dec. 1940, 602.
""That Which Makes the Picture" introduces its audience to the art of painting. Using a charming New England harbor scene, the viewer is shown the beginning sketches, the application of the basic colors, and the finishing touches to completion. After viewing the film, one has a greater appreciation for the care and attention to detail required of the artist working in oil paints" PSA Journal, Oct. 1963, 41.
Total Pages: 23
Amateur Cinema