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Still image from Poet and Peasant in Movie Makers, Dec. 1952, 323.

Date produced: 1952

Filmmaker(s):

Robert G. Williams

Production credits:

Languages:

English

Length:

225 ft

Format:

16mm

Colour:

Kodachrome

Sound Notes:

Magnetic

Awards/Recognition:

ACL Ten Best 1952

Description:

"At the outset of amateur movies' newest medium, magnetic sound on film, Robert G. Williams has accomplished a tour de force with his uncannily perfect synchrony of music to pictures in Poet and Peasant. As Kathryn Williams plays the familiar overture on the Hammond organ, the sound accompaniment matches the hand movements on screen without faltering and without once resorting to tricks or short cuts. Countless closeups of the organist's hands as they play give evidence of Mr. Williams's confidence and ability in the new field. But Mr. Williams also has made a lively and interesting picture from a subject usually so dull and static that, more often than not, it has stumped most professionals. Pacing his film with precision, he has used an amazing variety of camera angles, even shooting from above and behind the organ. Mrs. Williams's playing is competent and assured; but it is Mr. Williams's unusually good filming and recording techniques which bring her abilities vividly to life on screen." Movie Makers, Dec. 1952, 339.

Resources:

Williams discusses the film's usage of magnetic sound in "Notes from Magnetic Notebooks: 2" (Movie Makers, March 1953, 70-71). The article places emphasis on synchronizing a film's soundtrack with its images. Production stills are also shown.

The film was included in a screening package titled: The ACL Presents "The Top of the Ten Best," made available through the ACL Club Film Library in 1953 (Movie Makers, Feb. 1953, 30). The premiere screening of this program is chronicled in "World Premiere in Washington!" (Movie Makers, May 1953, 125). Screenings of this program include a "TTB" note in the "Screenings" field below.

Subjects:

Genre:

Form:

Screenings:

  • Screened by the Hartford Cinema Club in December of 1952: Hartford, CT
  • Screened by the Toledo Amateur Movie Makers in 1953: Toledo, OH
  • Screened by the Metropolitan Motion Picture Club in 1953: New York City, N.Y.
  • Screened (TTB) by the Washington Society of Cinematographers in 1953: Washington, D.C.
  • Screened (TTB) by the Metro Movie Club in 1953: River Park, IL
  • Screened (TTB) by the Kankakee Camera Club in 1953: Kankakee, IL
  • Screened (TTB) by the Oklahoma City Movie Makers in 1953: Oklahoma City, OK
  • Screened (TTB) by the Associated Amateur Cinema Clubs in 1953: Chicago, IL
  • Screened (TTB) by the Franklin County Camera Club in 1953: Greenfield, MA
  • Screened (TTB) by the Greater Denver Cinema League in 1953: Denver, CO
  • Screened (TTB) by the Amateur Motion Picture Society of Denver in 1953: Denver, CO
  • Screened (TTB) by the Los Angeles 8mm. Club in 1953: Los Angeles, CA
  • Screened (TTB) by the Omaha Movie Club in 1953: Omaha, NE
  • Screened (TTB) by the Big Lake Cine Club in 1953: Big Lake, TX
  • Screened (TTB) by the Golden Gate Cinematographers in 1953: San Francisco, CA
  • Screened (TTB) by the Indianapolis Amateur Movie Club in 1953: Indianapolis, IN
  • Screened (TTB) by the Kenosha Movie & Slide Club in 1953: Kenosha, WI
  • Screened (TTB) by the Los Angeles Cinema Club in 1953: Los Angeles, CA
  • Screened (TTB) by the Color Camera Club in 1953: Waterloo, IA
  • Screened (TTB) by the Central Texas Camera Club in 1953: Central Texas, TX
  • Screened (TTB) by the Southwest Movie Makers Guild in 1953 : Houston, TX
  • Screened (TTB) by the Long Beach Cinema Club in 1953: Long Beach, CA
  • Screened (TTB) by the Amateur Movie Club of San Diego in 1953: San Diego, CA
  • Screened (TTB) by the Niles Movie Club in 1953: Niles, MI
  • Screened (TTB) by the Detroit Cinema Club in 1953: Detroit, MI
  • Screened (TTB) by the Boston Camera Club in 1953: Boston, MA

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