The Nitrate Picture Show: Nitrate Shorts (2019)

The Battle of Midway (John Ford, 1942).

The Nitrate Picture Show (NPS), George Eastman Museum, Dryden Theatre, Rochester, 3 May 2019.

Battle of Midway
John Ford, US 1942
Print source: Museum of Modern Art, New York
Running time: 18 minutes
     NPS: "About the print: Frequent framing adjustments are needed from shot to shot of this archival footage. Heavy perforation and edge damage was repaired. Shrinkage: 0.75%
     About the film: Shot on 16 mm Kodachrome (some scenes with a handheld camera), this Technicolor film was released as a 35 mm documentary about the strategic importance of the island during World War II. Commander Ford personally shot some of the footage and was wounded while filming the battle. With voice-over narration by Ray Milland, Donald Crisp, and Jane Darwell. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2006." (NPS)
    AA: The Battle of Midway was the turning-point in the WWII Pacific theatre, like the battle of Salamis among the most decisive sea battles in history, and John Ford was there with his camera. There is no bombasm. Instead there is a human scale, with marines identified by name in medium shots, and an intimacy of tone with the various narrators. A Fordian soundtrack incorporates "America, My Country Tis of Thee", "U. S. Marine Corps Hymn" ["From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli"] and "Onward Christian Soldiers" but also "Red River Valley" bringing associations to The Grapes of Wrath among other films. A film of gravity and dignity. Visual quality: blow-up from 16 mm Kodachrome with a lively warm glow.

Frank Tashlin: Swooner Crooner. Frank Sinatra reincarnated as a rooster singing "It Can't Be Wrong" and "As Times Go By".

Swooner Crooner
Frank Tashlin, US 1944
Print source: Museum of Modern Art, New York
Running time: 7 minutes
    NPS: "About the print: While the stock does not have a visible edge code to date it, the print is nitrate with a print-thru edge code of 1943 and only minimal scratches. Shrinkage 0.70%
    About the film: A look at propaganda during the war—but with humor, as hens lay eggs based on the effect of crooning roosters at the henhouse." (NPS)
    AA: Another war contribution! Among Frank Tashlin's satirical targets are Taylorist production methods. Hens punch timecards diligently upon arrival at the workplace and manufacture eggs literally on a conveyor belt. To boost production there are two competing roosters. One croons like Frank Sinatra, the other like Bing Crosby, and soon there are mountains of eggs. A bright and vivid Technicolor print of a Warner Bros. cartoon.

Tulips Shall Grow.

Tulips Shall Grow
George Pal, US 1942
Print source: Library of Congress, Culpeper, VA
Running time: 7 minutes
    NPS: "About the print: Though the print required extensive edge repair, the image and sound remain in excellent condition, including the Technicolor dyes. Shrinkage: 0.83%.
    About the film: A Dutch boy and girl fall in love, only to be invaded by an army of Screwballs that threaten to destroy their land. Perseverance and a hand from Mother Nature are their only defense." (NPS)
    AA: A WWII allegory in an animated puppet film. A romance in the land of the windmills is threatened by a Screwball army. Rainfall brings rust and corrosion to the attacking war machine. Life begins again. In pleasing Technicolor.

Looking at London
US 1946
Print source: Library of Congress, Culpeper, VA
Running time: 10 minutes
    NPS: "About the print: Aside from a fair amount of scratching, this print is in generally good condition. Slight repairs were needed. Shrinkage: 0.70%.
    About the film: This Technicolor Fitzpatrick Travel Talk takes a look at postwar London, including the devastation caused by bombing." (NPS)
    AA: A postwar travelogue about London with Buckingham Palace intact but entire city blocks in ruins. Another genuine Technicolor experience, colour-driven.

Gardens of the Sea
US 1947
Print source: Academy Film Archive, Los Angeles
Running time: 9 minutes
    NPS: "About the print: Emulsion on both sides of the base makes this a tricky film to inspect and project, but the color remains astounding and the film itself remains in good shape. Shrinkage: 0.60%.
    About the film: Shot and distributed in Cinecolor (like last year’s Lost Lake), this Lowell Thomas Movietone examines Australia’s Coral Reef and the myriad strange creatures that live and build there." (NPS)
    AA: Also Gardens of the Sea is colour-driven with fantastic views of strange fish, turtles, spider crabs, starfish, little squids, mutton fish, snails, sea hares and hermit crabs. Cinecolor has its limitations but the print still looks charming.

Landscape of the Norse.

Landscape of the Norse
Earl Allvine, US 1947
Print source: Academy Film Archive, Los Angeles
Running time: 8 minutes
    NPS: "About the print: The amount of edge repair in this print causes a lateral movement in the gate, requiring special projectionist attention to make sure the image remains in frame. Shrinkage: 0.70%.
    About the film: A trip to Norway includes Constitution Day celebrations in Oslo, the shipping and fishing industry in Bergen, and a journey north of the Arctic Circle." (NPS)
    AA: Also this travelogue about Norway is inspired by colour. In the old town of Bergen we visit the fish market and take the funicular to the mountains. Also in this film the shadow of WWII is present. From Norwegian Lapland there is beautiful footage of Sami life and reindeer herding.

The Cobweb Hotel
Hämähäkkimotelli / Hotel Spindelnätet / Spindelhotellet.
Dave Fleischer, US 1936
Print source: UCLA Film and Television Archive, Los Angeles
Running time: 8 minutes
    NPS: "About the print: The wonderfully conserved print shows some edge repair, but little work was needed for this program. Shrinkage: 0.70%.
    About the film: This “Color Classic” finds a spider opening a hotel for unsuspecting flies on what may have been Fleischer’s actual desk." (NPS)
    AA: A gruesome horror cartoon of a spider managing a hotel. A pair of newlywed flies arrive, get immediately trapped but display a fighting spirit. They rebel and liberate all the other victims, too. The third three-strip Technicolor film of the Fleischer studio.

The Temperamental Lion.

The Temperamental Lion
Connie Rasinski, US 1939
Print source: George Eastman Museum / Chicago Film Society
Running time: 7 minutes
    NPS: "About the print: This is possibly a rejected print; the color dyes occasionally seem “smeared” throughout the film. The stock is somewhat brittle, and there is decomposition affecting the image in the opening credits. Shrinkage: 0.90%.
    About the film: A captured lion is taken unwillingly to the zoo, full of complaints and waiting for the opportunity to take revenge on his captor, Major Doolittle." (NPS)
    AA: A funny character study of a hammy and conceited lion at the zoo ("they can't do this to me"). Of course he is right to claim that "I don't belong here". Good voice talent. Aware of the disclaimers in the program notes I nevertheless received a good impression of the colour world.