JamesM

There is alot more information on the BFI BID database, now online.

Ken.

Why I arrived at my initial opinion [which you have now changed] was because, for instance, I checked out
the IMDb for info. about Max Darewski, who featured in 3 Chronophone 'Sound' films, 1907. There were no details other than name, and the music from the 3 short films...When in fact Master Darewski was a 'Boy
Conductor'...A musical prodigy, [1894-1929], who,I believe, composed at least two of the pieces of music featured.
I also have a picture.

A brief biography features in the 'Oxford Companion To Popular Music'.

Would the database be able to use this info?

Ken.

"Pic-nicking Mr Pernel?..Pic-nicking Miss Dandridge?

Steve Crook

They can use most additional information that we can find. Especially on the older films where there isn't so much information readily available. When I first found them, back in the dim and distant, they were still based at Cardiff University - that's where they started, most of those in charge are still Brits. Back then they had built up a fairly impressive system which I liked because of it's proper database structure with everything cross referenced and the ability to do some quite sophisticated searches. I also liked their ethos of opening it up to the world so that everyone could add whatever information they knew.

Initially they had a lot of information on Hollywood films because that was already available in electronic form, but they were a bit short on information on British films. So I redressed that balance as far as I could.

If you have any other information about the films, or about Max Darewski himself, then just go to the relevent page and hit the Update button near the bottom of the page. You shouldn't just copy a biography from the Oxford Companion but you can use that as a source and rewrite it in your own words. Remember the old adage, if you just use one souce, that's plagarism, if you use two, that's research

If there are any other facts about the films, like that they were sound, what sound system was used, who composed the music, any other members of the cast or crew, then you can add all of that.

You do have to register with them before you can submit anything, but it's free.

Your submissions won't appear immediately, they will have to be approved by a section manager first and that can take a few weeks. As a new contributor with no history that they can use to see how reliable you are it's best to include as many references as possible. You can include those as Miscellaneous Comments in the appropriate section(s).

Steve

theuofc

And for 1949, add:

David Lean, 1 Ilchester Place, London, who bought the house "because it was grand."

And right next door? Michael Powell, 2 Ilchester Place, London.
These delicious bits are from Kevin Brownlow's "David Lean," which I'm greatly enjoying reading now.

Yes addresses can be fascinating with Dirk and Mickey on Chester the same years, and David and Mickey at Ilchester in 1949.

Best,

Barbara

theuofc

Yep, David Lean was an amazing editor, and from all accounts, he directed through the eyes of an editor, another plus. David Malcolm, Lean's stepson by Ann Todd, talks fondly of the time Lean spent with him including that on set going through "every aspect of production...he'd [Lean] sit me on the dolly and show me a tracking shot through the viewfinder. I asked him why, when you looked at a spoked wheel on the screen it appeared to be going backwards. He spent hours on his Moviola in his study showing me why that happened." (Brownlow 264) Fascinating, no?

Barbara

theuofc

Splitting my replies here to call attention to Freddie Young, whose "Seventy Light Years" is an excellent read. A good part of Freddie's book focuses on his work as DP with David Lean (of course!) on Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia and Ryan's Daughter, all of which Freddie won Oscars for as cinematographer.

In his chapter on filming "49th Parallel"(1941), Freddie recalls how their "salaries were paid in England and we were given a small allowance, sufficient for a bottle of beer and some cigarettes by the production manager, George Brown, "Dollar-a-Day-Brown," as they called him. But Freddie found another way to get beer money for his crew.

Freddie had brought his Eyemo, which was handy because it could be used without a tripod. "Mickey Powell was constantly asking to borrow it.
'I said to George and Mickey, 'I'd like some money for the hire of the Eyemo.'
'Sorry,' replied George. 'I'm afraid that's not possible.'
'In that case, it's not available any more.'
'Pay him,'Mickey snapped. He didn't even look round. With the pound a day rental I was able to buy the boys extra bottles of beer."

For readers at large: for more on the Young-Lean-Powell work in ""49th P," read Kevin Brownlow's biography "David Lean" and Michael Powell's autobiography "A Life in Movies." Time well spent.

Barbara

Ken.

Part 3.

Renee Gadd, 17, South Street, Thurloe Square, London, SW.7
Joan Gardner, 21, Daleham Gardens, London, NW.3
Basil Gill, 31, Roehampton Lane, London, SW.15
Carol Goodner, 99, Mortimer Street, London, W.1
Louis Goodrich, 166 Clarence Gate Gardens, London, NW.1
Barbara Gott, 39, Walton Street, London, NE.3
Margot Grahame, 4, Clifton Gardens, Maida Vale, London
Clare Greet, 66, Elm Park Mansions, London, SW.10
Vanda Greville, 22, Slower Road, London, W.14
Anne Grey, 4, Portsen Mews, Connaught Square, London, W.2
Edmund Gwenn, 14, John Street, Adelphi, London, WC.2

Ken.

"Pic-nicking Mr Pernel?..Pic-nicking Miss Dandridge?

Rennie

Patric Doonan: (No ?) Margaretta Street, Chelsea. (1958)

samkydd

Wouldn't 2 Ilchester Place be over the road from 1 Ilchester place? Next door to Number 1 would be Number 3 surely?

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

theuofc

Well, not if you're me and you pay no attention to the logic of house numbering. You just arbitrarily relocate the two houses!

You're right, of course, Sam. I'm glad you've got a brain. All poor Kevin Brownlow said was, "David had bought the house at l Ilchester Place..because it was grand. Michael Powell owned 2 Ilchester Place." I'm the one who put the two next to each other. Never ask me to deliver your mail. You'll never get it.

I can't stop laughing...

Best,

Barbara

theuofc

Thanks for Part 3, Ken. Edmund Gwenn. That name always brings a smile from me. As a child growing up, I loved watching reruns of Gwenn as Santa Claus in "Miracle on 34th Street." Others also liked him in the role as he won an Oscar for Best Supporting for it.

In 1933, already in his late 50s, Gwenn was in another Victor Saville film, "Friday the Thirteenth," which sounds like an intriguing melodrama, not a horror film. It's not available. Wouldn't it be lovely if these old films weren't gone?

Bit of trivia here: his brother Arthur Chesney played a small role, the harmonica player, in one of my favorite Powell and Pressburger films, "I Know Where I'm Going."

Best,

Barbara

Ken.

I am still trawling through numerous old record catalogues hoping to find a recording from IKWIG by anyone, including Mr Chesney...No luck so far, 'though I have discovered that, according to the 'Robert Farnum Society', Mr Farnum worked on the score of the film, including the title music. I have passed this on to the IMDB.

Ken.

"Not now Arthur!"

"Pic-nicking Mr Pernel?..Pic-nicking Miss Dandridge?

julian_craster

For IKWIG, Robert Farnon provided the arrangements of Scottish songs for the choir, as Allan Gray was not confident about doing this, and Farnon was an expert choral arranger. The IKWIG music score was all by Allan Gray.
Robert Farnon was still relatively unknown at this time. I think this was his first film credit (apart from appearing as bandleader in an Anna Neagle film....)

Ken.

The information I posted is from 'The Robert Farnon Discography', which is...'Film Score - Partial Scoring for the film 'I Know Where I'm Going' including title music.'

The Anna Neagle film is 'I Live In Grosvenor Square'[US title 'A Yank In London'] ...Background score composed by Anthony Collins and recorded by the L.S.O. and R.A.F. orchestras conducted by Muir Matthieson.
Additional music. 'If I Had My Way'...Carroll Gibbons & his Orchestra.
' Home'...The Canadian Band Of The A.E.F. conducted by Captain Bob Farnon,
vocal Irene Manning, the films main theme song.
'Rainbow Corner' [Swing and jitterbug sequences]...Sergeant Viccari & His G.I. Band.

"...a feast of featured and background scoring in the best Hollywood tradition".

Ken.

"Pic-nicking Mr Pernel?..Pic-nicking Miss Dandridge?

penfold

So that's where I knew him from!!! Saw The Skin Game at Nottingham, a film treatment of a sensational play at the time, starring the original theatrical cast - including Edmund Gwenn, circa 1921, as a ruthless businessman, taking on the local aristos - who turn out to be yet more ruthless. Also starring a young, gorgeous femme fatale - Mary Clare - who if you are aware of from her roles in the forties, is a real surprise...

Bit of a Bay Window, what??