movies_creation
American Movie Archives (美國電影檔案)
- Title
- Alchemist In Hollywood, The (Part I)
- Year
- 1940
- Abstract
- Explains chemical processes used in the motion picture laboratory. Diagrams and demonstrations of exposure, photochemical reactions, development, and printing. Photographer: Shirley Burden. Sound Recording: Bernard B. Brown.
- Notes
-
Produced: Atkinson (Ralph B.) & Solow (Sidney Paul)
Sponsor: American Chemical Society
Run Time: 14:35
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W - Keyword
- Motion pictures: Laboratories;Chemistry;Motion pictures: Production;Chemistry;Motion pictures: Production
- Theme
- The Alchemist in Hollywood (Full Film)
- Review
-
Hollywood film processors try to show us how exciting their career is by making the most boring film ever. They start by writing a script that tells us in excruciating detail the exact chemical processes of film development. They hire boring narrators to carefully and slowly read the script word-for-word (at one point, you actually hear one of them turning the pages!). They illustrate this science lecture with such exciting visuals as plain title cards with chemical formulas on them, disembodied hands mixing things in beakers, and bored-looking technicians doing their jobs with grim determination. Isn't Hollywood an amazing land of dreams?
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: **. Weirdness: ***. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: **.
(Reviewer: Christine Hennig) - Location
- A/V room, 2/F