The Classic Movies Weekly Newsletter
May 22, 2005


This week: Updated tributes to Laurence Olivier, John Wayne, and Vincent Price.

Our condolences to the family of actor Frank Gorshin, who died last week at the age of 72.

Celebrating birthdays this coming week are Joan Collins (72) and Christopher Lee (83). Check out our birthday calendar:
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/d23507ba34/336425/6108ff7f32/7a363d7


--------------- New/Updated Features --------------

**A Tribute to Vincent Price**
Although known primarily as the star of numerous gothic horror films, Vincent Price was also an accomplished art historian, writer, and gourmet chef.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/8f992e123d/336425/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**A Tribute to John Wayne**
A tribute to the beloved "B" movie, western, and war film star who became an American patriotic icon.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/c7ae31c629/336425/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**A Tribute to Laurence Olivier**
Affectionately dubbed "Sir Larry" by his many fans, Laurence Olivier is widely recognized as the greatest English-speaking actor who ever lived.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/128095a7c2/336425/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**A Centennial Tribute to Henry Fonda**
Henry Fonda was one of the most believable actors in Hollywood. There was a time when he probably could have been elected President; after all, he played the role better than many of the guys who had the job! An updated
centennial tribute.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/6de2dabb9e/336425/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**A Tribute to Maureen O'Sullivan**
Though best known as the actress who played Jane in a half-dozen Tarzan movies, Maureen O'Sullivan had a film career that included many roles in which she was fully dressed!
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/01e51b7ebd/336425/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**A Tribute to Frank Capra**
Very few directors have had words coined from their names to describe their style. "Capra-esque" is one of them.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/0a09c4715e/336425/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**A Tribute to Jimmy Stewart**
Here's a salute to everybody's favorite Everyman on what would have been his 97th birthday.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/b0118e6809/336425/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**100 Years...100 Movie Quotes**
The American Film Institute (AFI) will broadcast its "AFI's 100
Years...100 Movie Quotes" program -- counting down the 100 greatest quotes from American movies, as chosen by experts of the motion picture community -- in a three-hour television event on CBS on June 21, 2005. Here's the current scoop on the nominees, plus a list of sound files for likely winners.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/40860e7e88/336425/6108ff7f32/7a363d7


--------------- New on DVD -------------------

Last week we announced three brand new DVD releases, including one you've probably been anticipating for a long, long time (more new releases next week):

"The High And The Mighty" (Special Collector's Edition) (1954) - Probably
the most anticipated DVD release of all time is now available for advance
orders for delivery in June! The Oscar-winning progenitor of the airborne
disaster film genre features a memorable turn by John Wayne as a veteran
airline pilot unable to overcome surviving a crash which killed his wife
and child. Serving as co-pilot to brash rival Robert Stack on a
Honolulu-San Francisco passenger flight that sustains a midair emergency,
Wayne must try to safely land the damaged plane before the fuel runs out.
Among the passengers, whose personal crises are shown in flashbacks, are
unhappily married couple Laraine Day and John Howard, playboy David Brian,
mail-order bride Jan Sterling, and world-weary Claire Trevor; William
Wellman directs.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/ab16e54e64/336425/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

"Controversial Classics" - Seven-disc set of excellent films appearing on
DVD for the first time that were controversial when they were released:
"I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang," "Fury," "Blackboard Jungle," "Bad Day
at Black Rock," "A Face in the Crowd," "Advise and Consent," and "The
Americanization of Emily."
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/8900cfde7c/336425/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

"The Longest Yard" (Lockdown Edition) (1974) - With the remake coming out,
it might be a good time to revisit the original: Burt Reynolds is an ex-pro
quarterback sent to a Florida prison for car theft, where the conniving
warden (Eddie Albert) coerces him into organizing an all-con football team
to play against the guards' semi-pro squad. The result is a violent and
hilarious contest you won't forget. With James Hampton, Michael Conrad.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/12a5686933/336425/6108ff7f32/7a363d7


--------------- Best New Links ------------------

More best new links (new to us, anyway) were added to the Classic Movies
site this week:

**AFI's 100 Years of Films Scores - The American Film Institute asked over
500 leaders from the creative community to choose the 25 best film scores
of all time, which will be presented live by John Mauceri and the
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra on September 23, 2005.
**MIDI Movie Theme Songs & Movie Clips - Michael Appert offers a huge
collection of both wav files and MIDI (that's electronic music rather than
the original scores) theme songs from movies for your listening pleasure.
**Tighsolas - A site created by Dorothy Nixon about a family in Richmond,
Quebec 1908-1913; Richmond is the home town of Mack Sennett.
**Michelle Vogel - Home page for author Michelle Vogel, whose specialty is
Hollywood biographies, the most recent a bio of Gene Tierney.
**The WOW Factor - A UK-based purveryor of hand-signed memorabilia.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/5b41d616c9/336425/6108ff7f32/7a363d7


----------------Parting Words -------------------

Next week: Updated tributes to Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis, plus a brand new 75th birthday tribute to Clint Eastwood, and a Memorial Day salute to World War II movies.

Brad Lang
Classic Movies
classicmovies.org

Arts Institute Students Triumph at the Royal Television Society’s Student Television Awards

Students from the BA (Hons) Film Production Degree at The Bournemouth Film School, part of the Arts Institute at Bournemouth, have once again played a part in representing both their course and Institution in recognition of its commitment to education at the highest level.

The hard work, long hours and dedication of students on the BA (Hons) Film Production course paid off when, following on from the recent success of winning the Best Non-Factual Film at the Royal Television Society Regional Awards 2004, they won the National Award in the Undergraduate Non-Factual Section.

The winning piece; ‘Monica Guiltheart and the Mysterious Pencil’ was created by team of students from the Arts Institute including David O’Sullivan (writer, director and co-producer), Mikal Hovland (Camera) Nick Gillett (sound) and Simon Young (editor). The story is a touching tale dealing with many issues children face, such as bullying, but told from a child’s point of view. With the discovery of a mysterious pencil, Monica realises she can make amazing things happen…

The Arts Institute’s students were up against strong national competition in the form of contenders from the Manchester Metropolitan University and the Dublin Institute of Technology.

At the award ceremony, Tim Vaughan, (Executive Producer of Drama at Granada) Chairman of the judging panel said:

“The aim of the film was ‘to produce a pilot children’s TV series that tackles serious issues in a sensitive yet satirical and magical way.’ Well yes, exactly. It did so wonderfully, again and again. I’d only add my congratulations to the actors and give special thanks for some really brilliant costume and make up work. When will my kids be able to see it on the box."

Full information on the student awards can be found on the Royal Television Society website: http://www.rts.org.uk

The Arts Institute at Bournemouth has long been recognised for the extremely high quality of its film and animation provision. In 1998, it was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in recognition of the high standard of its film courses, chiefly the former HND in Film and Television which became the BA (Hons) Film and Animation Production. More recently the BA (Hons) Animation Production has received Skillset Animation Accreditation from the Animation Forum.

Film Synopsis:

Monica Giltheart is not happy. Bullied at school, with her parents splitting up and being hopeless at spelling tests, things look bleak.

Then, one day, Monica receives an old, wax sealed, envelope. Inside she finds a mysterious looking pencil wrapped in a note from her Grandma saying ‘I thought this might help you…’

Although Monica loved her Grandma dearly and although she drew lots of pictures to make herself feel better she could not quite see how this strange pencil was going to ‘help’ her any more than any of the other pencils she used. Then one day, in a spelling test Monica has drawn herself winning, she realises that everything she draws with the pencil magically affects the world around her, that she can make things better, save friends from trouble and make amazing things happen…

The question is what will she do next?

A touching and exciting pilot for a children’s television series, ‘Monica Giltheart’ appeals to children and adults alike. Children’s issues are approached with the sensitivity usually reserved for more ‘adult’ themes, but with lashings of satire, magic and cherries on top!

PLAY.COM Online Home Entertainment Report

19th May 2005 for w/c 23th May

Play.com is the UK’s favourite online home entertainment retailer and has over 30 per cent market share for DVDs, Games and Music (Hitwise data).

All the information contained is based on actual PLAY.COM sales.

Next week online

Let the (Merchandising) Force be with you!

Star Wars fever has taken over. The release of the final film in the double trilogy has sparked renewed interest in all things Star Wars. StarWars: Clone Wars is at number two in the DVD sales charts and Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is at the top of the games charts. At PLAY.COM there are an amazing 256 Star Wars items available, from Darth Vader mugs through to soundtracks and Light Sabers. For real followers of the force you can collect:

2 Audio books

9 DVDs

14 CDs

35 Games

38 Gadgets/ gifts

158 Books

DVDs

Last week’s PLAY.COM Top Ten Best Sellers.

1. Phantom Of The Opera - (2004)

2. Star Wars: Clone Wars – Vol 1 Animated

3. Meet the Fockers

4. Dodgeball - A True Underdog Story

5. House of the Flying Daggers - (2 discs)

6. White Noise

7. Meet the Fockers/ Meet the Parents (Box set)

8. Blade Trinity – Extended version

9. Angel (TV) – Season 5 Box Set

10. Friends - Series 10 Box Set (3 Discs)

New releases to watch out for w/c 23th May

1. Team America – World Police

2. Oceans Twelve (12)

3. Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events: Special Edition

DVD Feature

Kids films

With Dr Who controversially being given a 12 certificate, we have taken a look at the kids favourite films that do have the PG classification. It looks as through Lemoney Snicket will very quickly take the top spot as pre-orders have been growing for this film, but at the moment SpongeBob Square Pants Movie is the top seller. However we probably would not have predicted that Ghostbusters would be at number two, ahead of Incredibles! The top five best selling kids films at the moment are:

1. SpongeBob Square Pants Movie

2. Ghostbusters

3. The Incredibles

4. The Goonies

5. The Princess Bride

CDs

Last week’s PLAY.COM Top Ten Best Sellers.

1. Basement Jaxx – The Singles

2. Nine Inch Nails – With Teeth

3. System of a Down – Mezmerize

4. Weezer – Make Believe

5. Kaiser Chiefs – Employment

6. Gwen Stefani – Love, Angel, Music, Baby

7. Bruce Springsteen – Devils and Dust

8. Eels – Blinking Lights And Other Revelations

9. Athlete – Tourist

10. Robert Plant – Mighty Rearranger



New releases to watch out for w/c 23th May

1. Audio Slave – Out of Exile

2. Gorrilaz – Demon Days (With Bonus DVD)

3. The Coral – The Invisible Invasion



CD Feature

It is no surprise that the best selling movie soundtrack at the moment is John Williams Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. John Williams and Star Wars is also at the number three spot in the chart. The top five favourite movie soundtracks are

1. John Williams Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

2. Various soundtracks – Music from O.C. mix 4

3. John Williams Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

4. Various soundtracks – Ultimate Disney

5. Grease



Books

This week’s PLAY.COM Top Ten Best Sellers:

1. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy – A Trilogy In Four Parts – Douglas Adams

2. The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown

3. I Can Make You Thin – Paul Mckenna

4. The Times Su Doku: The Number Placing Puzzle – Wayne Gould

5. The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom

6. Elvis – Priscilla Presley; Lisa Marie Presley

7. Artemis Fowl The Opal Deception – Eion Colfer

8. A Long Way Down – Nick Hornby

9. The Tiger’s Child – Torey Hayden

10. Angels and Demons – Dan Brown

New releases to watch out for:

1. 4 Inches – Jimmy Choos/ Supermodels/ Cartier and not much else – for charity

2. World According To Clarkson – Jeremy Clarkson

3. Fat – Rob Grant



Book Feature

Audio books have a Sci-fi bias

Last week the top five best selling audio books were all sci-fi based. The Hitchhiker’s Guide filled the top three spots and Doctor Who the remaining two places. The on screen (large and small) popularity of both is very clear. The top five audio books are:

1. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Tertiary Phase

2. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Secondary Phase

3. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Primary Phase

4. Doctor Who – Project Who?

5. Doctor Who – The Crusade



Games

Last week’s PLAY.COM Best Sellers:

PC Guild Wars

Half Life 2

World Of Warcraft

PS2 Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Viewtiful Joe

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Xbox Forza Motorsport

Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Championship Manager 5

Play recommends

As the new Xbox and Playstation are unveiled gamesters will be looking to upgrade their kit – but at the moment they will have to make do with their existing hardware. The focus on Star Wars continues on PS2 and PC, but Xbox users are getting sporty with Forza Motorsport selling extremely well and Championship Manager 5 providing footy fans with something to do in the off season!

Gadgets/ Electronics

Last week’s PLAY.COM Best Sellers:

Gadgets - Powerball Neon Blue Pro

LIVEWRONG Wristband

Keep A Child Alive Wristband

Electronics Play.com 256MB MP3 / WMA Player With Voice Recorder

Play.com USB 2.0 Flash Drive 256mb

Credit card size digital camera

Play recommends

One item is gaining a lot of interest at the moment, the new professional paintball starter pack with a top of the range Viewloader Orion Semi-Automatic Paintball Gun - those that know, say that this is a must have item!

10° Milano Film Festival
Milan, 16 - 25 September 2005
Piccolo Teatro Strehler, Moats of the Castello Sforzesco

CALL FOR ENTRIES: Ten days are left to submit a film to Milano Film Festival
The competition collects and selects short and feature films from all over the world and is open to films of any genre, running time, language and format, provided that they have been produced after January 1st 2004. The selected directors will be invited to Milan (information and rules on the web site www.milanofilmfestival.it). The submission deadline is May 31, 2005, one month earlier than in the past last year the selection jury received the amazing number of 2000 films. This is just the first change introduced for the tenth edition, for the first of 10 and more editions to come.

THE ARTISTIC PROGRAMME
The film project will be further enhanced, as a result of a year of commitment in the search for and distribution of films from all over the world. Special consideration will be paid to filmmakers depicting unknown stories and cultures, to independent productions that are usually ignored by commercial circuits. In particular, the aim is to focus on those countries that manage to produce films despite their economic, political and social difficulties, such as the Middle East. Furthermore, larger participation of feature films will be encouraged.

A FESTIVAL FOR THE CITY.
The artistic project is complemented by activities aiming to favour the participation of the festival in the life of the city and to interact with all the citizens not only of film buffs. Peculiar urban installations will transform public space the real venue for collective events. Beside the Teatro Strehler and the moats of the Castello Sforzesco, new prestigious spaces will be involved.

A WIDE-RANGING EVENT.
Once again the festival will feature a large number of side events, as a further proof of its ability in gathering art, celebration, culture and public participation: retrospectives, seminars, out-of-competition screenings, non-stop events, workshops, meetings, concerts, exhibitions and activities for students, children and elders. From early in the morning to late at night, hundreds of events within the event, including those specially organised to celebrate the tenth edition, will contribute to create a festival that is not an occasion limited to film buffs and members of the film industry, but a place where cinema merges with other contemporary forms of expression and becomes part of a lively and universal language.

Milano Film Festival
Via Paladini, 8
20133 Milano - Italy
Tel/fax: +39 02 713 613
www.milanofilmfestival.it
media@milanofilmfestival.it

Geoff Smith and The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (Cert. U)

Screening of the 1919 classic German silent film, featuring a live soundtrack for multi-dulcimers and voice composed and performed by G.M. Smith on prototype hammered dulcimers

Purcell Room, Friday 22 July 2005, 7pm & 9pm
Part of Rhythm Sticks 2005 - The Festival of Drumming and Percussion from around the World
South Bank Centre Sat 16 July - Sun 24 July 05

This year Rhythm Sticks features the hammered dulcimer as a main percussion instrument, as well as a full-length feature film with a live percussion-only soundtrack for the first time.

Geoff Smith’s new score for The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, a widely recognised classic of world cinema, is a revelation and breaks new ground in the composition and performance of live music for film. It is the first ever feature film soundtrack that has been composed and performed on specially designed hammered dulcimers. Smith's immensely dynamic score intimately relates to the emotional and psychological depth and intensity of the film’s narrative. The dulcimer is the perfect instrument to create extreme dynamics and Geoff Smith is able to expand and explore these possibilities even further because of his revolutionary approach to the design of the instrument (including the hammers) as well as composition and performance, e.g. the transferring of drum kit technique and rudiments on to the dulcimer.

Geoff Smith uses three different prototype dulcimers in The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, two of which are historic innovations in instrument design: the first UK fixed position chromatic dulcimer, and the first microtonal dulcimer, fitted with Geoff's revolutionary invention, the microtonal fluid tuning mechanism, through which he can raise or lower the tone of each note by precise microtonal intervals. Without this mechanism this sound track would have been impossible.
Geoff Smith, a renowned composer, percussionist and player of the dulcimer has developed this special mechanism to expand the possibilities of his compositions. Fitted to a piano, for example, microtones, which are usually beyond the capability of this instrument and scales such as the Iranian dastgah-ha, could be accessible to pianists of the future.

The hammered dulcimer is an ancient percussion instrument struck by small wooden hammers, sticks or mallets. The largest dulcimers have well over 100 strings. Each country has its own indigenous dulcimer, which peculiarly reflects its respective culture. There is much debate as to the instrument's origins before it spread around the world (if it did). Dulcimers are referred to in the King James Version of the bible. According to information available in the 'west', the oldest known depiction of a dulcimer is from a 12th century ivory book cover made in Byzantium for the wife of the Count of Anjou (1139). Until today the dulcimer has been seen as a traditional instrument and has usually been used in folk and classical music in respective cultures.

The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari soundtrack was composed to the original tinted print with German expressionist captions. Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles and Fritz Lang (who was originally approached to direct Caligari) were greatly influenced by the film's combination of psychology, fairground, fantasy, expressionism, delusion, murder and somnambulism. This tale of hypnosis, powerlessness, murder and insanity can be seen as a metaphor for a new cinema itself: The spectator's helpless horror in the face of unfolding narrative and the revelation of their own deep buried desires. It is the first work of the Cinema of the Subconscious. Directed by Robert Wiene, this 1919 production of The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (Das Kabinett des Dr Caligari) is one of the most influential films of the silent film era and a famous example of German Expressionism and was a huge artistic success at the time.

Plot summary:
A young man named Francis recounts a fantastic story taking place in a North German town where a number of brutal murders have been occurring. Francis and his friend, Alan, visit a travelling fair where one of the acts is a certain Dr Caligari's presentation of a hypnotized sleepwalker named Cesare who can tell the future. Cesare predicts Alan will be dead by the next morning, and he is in fact murdered in the night. Francis becomes suspicious of Caligari and Cesare, but another man is incorrectly blamed with the crimes. However, Cesare later abducts Francis's fiancée Jane, and it becomes evident that Caligari was commanding the sleepwalker to carry out the murders. Francis chases Caligari into an insane asylum where it turns out Caligari is the director who has himself gone mad. Dr Caligari is captured and incarcerated in his own institution. The flashback ends, and it turns out Francis is actually a patient in the asylum, as are Jane and Cesare. The benevolent Dr Caligari is the director, and he states that Francis suffers from peculiar delusions.

Geoff Smith has just completed a successful tour of Faust screenings featuring his live soundtrack performed on prototype hammered dulcimers.

Details

Friday 22 July, Purcell Room, 7pm & 9pm
Geoff Smith and The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (Cert. U)
Geoff Smith composer & performer
Tickets £12.50 £10
Box Office 08703 800 400 ~ Book online: www.rfh.org.uk

Film London appoints head of new micro feature fund

Maggie Ellis, Film London’s highly respected Production Executive has been appointed as the first Head of Production at the capital’s media agency it has been announced today.

The Head of Production is a new post tasked with running an ambitious, new Micro Budget Digital Feature Film Fund, which will open for applications from September 2005. The post also oversees the established and highly successful PULSE Digital Shorts scheme for young film-makers in partnership with the UK Film Council New Cinema Fund; Film London’s involvement with local borough film funds; and the London Artists’ Film & Video moving image network run in association with the Arts Council England London.

Maggie Ellis is well known as a champion of new talent in the industry and has worked across film and television as a producer and consultant to a number of major organisations including Channel Four, BBC, ITV, Arts Council England, The Wellcome Trust and the National Film and Television School. Maggie Ellis has helped launch the careers of some of London’s most talented film-makers and artists through a variety of commercial and public production schemes including the renowned London Production Fund and animate!. Directors such as Shona Auerbach, Juliet McKoen and Yousaf Ali Khan have all benefited from Maggie’s direct involvement with their early projects.

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London commented, “This is a great appointment for Film London. Maggie brings an enormous wealth of experience and huge energy to this exciting new post, which will have a direct impact on London’s emerging film-making talent.”

Maggie Ellis, Head of Production at Film London said, “I am delighted to be tackling this exciting new role. The digital feature film fund is an amazing opportunity for London film-makers to develop their skills and showcase their creativity on a full length project, and I am thrilled to be a part of this.”

Conrad Bodman, Senior Visual Arts Officer, Arts Council England said, “Maggie brings a wealth of experience to this challenging new position and we look forward to working with her to develop artists' moving image practice in London.”

'PSYCHO' VIOLINIST'S INSTRUMENT GOES UNDER THE HAMMER

A fine French violin owned by the legendary Louis Kaufman (1905 - 1994) until his death is to go under the hammer later this month. With solo performances on over 500 film scores and the almost single-handed revival of
Vivaldi's music to his credit, Kaufman is probably the most recorded violinist in history to date. The instrument is to sell at Bonhams, 101 New Bond Street, on 23 May.

Millions of cinema-lovers the world over will be familiar with Kaufman's work, since he can be heard on hundreds of film scores from the 1930s 'Golden Age' of Hollywood through to the 1970s. As Tinseltown's most
sought-after soloist, Kaufman played on the soundtracks of such classic movies as Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Showboat, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Greatest Story Ever Told and Psycho. Of his life here, classical radio
DJ Jim Svejda gave the highest praise: "Maybe the only guy in the history of Hollywood who never said a bad thing about anybody, and about whom no bad thing was ever said."

Hailed by The New York Times as "a violinist's violinist and a musician's musician," Louis Kaufman was born in Portland, Oregon, and by the age of 13 was studying with Franz Kneisel at the Juilliard (New York's Institute of
Musical Art). From there he went on to fame and fortune both in the concert hall and on the silver screen, a life reflected in his posthumously published autobiography, 'A Fiddler's Tale: How Hollywood and Vivaldi
Discovered Me.' The introduction to the book, penned by Jim Svejda, honours Kaufman's abilities as a performer: "He had a big, rich, sweet sound, never cloying, wonderfully warm. He was a chameleon - he knew exactly how to get into whatever particular style or moment (the music) needed, but it was always recognisably Louis."

The music of Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741) has penetrated our musical consciousness so vigorously that today it is hard to image a time when he was virtually unheard of. Yet when CBS conductor Alfredo Antonini asked
Kaufman, at short notice, to perform the Italian composer's 'Le Quattro Stagioni' (The Four Seasons), Vivaldi's name was not even listed in music history books. Yet since Kaufman's first recording of this piece in December
1949, which won France's Grand Prix du Disque in 1950 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002, 'The Four Seasons' has become one of the most famous and prized pieces in the basic repertoire of classical music.

The fine violin to be sold at Bonhams is thus made all the more remarkable given the talents of its previous owner. The rich red-brown instrument is by 'Gand & Bernardel Luthier du Conservatoire de Musique 1884,' and is
estimated to fetch £10,000 - 15,000 at auction. Two very fine silver mounted violin bows which belonged to Kaufman are also included in the sale; one by N. Maire of Paris, circa 1850, and the other by P. Simon, Paris, circa 1860. They are estimated to fetch between £6,000 - 10,000 and £10,000 - 15,000 respectively.

London Production Revolution

‘London Day’ in Cannes marks announcements to make London even more attractive base for film productions with new Police Filming Unit and Online Permitting Portal

At the Cannes Film Festival today Film London will announce "the most comprehensive revolution in film production in London for 25 years".

Top British film-makers Stephen Frears, Gurinder Chadha and Martha Fiennes will mark the launch of the new London Filming Partnership by participating in a series of events as part of a ‘London Day’ in Cannes. The Partnership delivers a package of ground-breaking initiatives which will cement London’s position as one of the world’s leading film production centres.

The Partnership is the result of 12 months of extensive consultation between everyone involved in film production in London - industry bodies, local authorities and the major landmarks and organisations - chaired by Lord David Puttnam as part of the Film London Executive Task Force. Mayor Ken Livingstone and the London Development Agency back the Partnership, and over 80 partners have signed up already including all of London’s 33 local authorities, PACT, The Production Guild, Production Managers Association, Guild of Location Managers, Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police.

Film, TV and advertising productions in London will now benefit from:

· The first ever Metropolitan Police Filming Unit dedicated to assisting all productions filming in the capital;

· A red-tape busting ‘single online portal’ system to access information on London locations and arrange filming permissions;

· The free use of Film London location scouts for major feature film productions;

· No local authority filming charges for student and low-budget film-makers;

· Special discounts on accommodation, parking, transport and iconic locations;

· A transparent fee structure for filming across all 33 London boroughs;

· A 24 hour ‘filming hotline’ for local residents;

· A new mediation service for any film-maker involved in a local dispute;

These new benefits will deliver a massive overhaul to filming in the capital. They will ensure London remains an industry leader in an increasingly competitive international marketplace and allay any outdated perceptions of London as a difficult city to film in. Productions currently benefiting from London's film-friendly approach include The Da Vinci Code, V For Vendetta and Basic Instinct: Risk Addiction.

Film London, through the Task Force process, has also now produced a new step-by-step guide for filming in the capital and a guide for local authorities to make London film-friendly on a practical level. Both of these are available online.

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London said, “The capital offers wonderful locations. It provides the backdrop of a lively, modern and diverse city, as in Closer and Bullet Boy, as well iconic and historic landmarks, like those featured in Woody Allen's recent film. London has risen to the challenge to put it at the forefront of the international screen industries and the London Filming Partnership, led by Film London, will make the city an even easier and cheaper place to film. This agreement will make sure that film continues to deliver massive cultural and economic benefits to the capital.”

Lord Puttnam, Chair of the Film London Executive Task Force said, "This Agreement and the new Code of Practice for filming represent a very significant step forward in making London a more attractive centre for production for all of the moving image industries. We've had an incredible level of cooperation from everyone involved in the process - from those who represent the citizens of London, from the industry and from private sector organisations. I'm confident that the work of the Task Force will deliver significant benefits to all of its stakeholders."

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London said, “The London Filming Partnership will make London one of the best, easiest and most efficient places to film in the world. With the unprecedented support of everyone involved in film and media production in the capital I have no doubt that this agreement will help to keep London at the top of the international production industry. We have delivered the most comprehensive revolution in film production in London for 25 years".

Assistant Commissioner Stephen House of the Metropolitan Police Service said, "The formation of a Metropolitan Police Filming Unit is an enterprise generated in response to the requirements of both the business and residential communities of the London boroughs. This initiative has been stimulated by the Film London Executive Task Force in order to provide an integrated approach between the Police and film-makers operating in the London environs. The purpose of the new unit is to dramatically streamline and improve the efficiency of our working relationship with everyone filming in the capital."

Eric Fellner, co-chair Working Title Films, producer of Bridget Jones and Love Actually said, "I have been shooting movies in London for more than 20 years and, with the advent of Film London, this is the first time that we at Working Title feel that our films are being really helped on the ground. Perhaps even more importantly, I feel that the Film London Task Force, which I am pleased to be a member of, is genuinely succeeding in improving things to make London a more film-friendly and thus more competitive place to make movies, for everyone's benefit.”

GURINDER CHADHA, ALAN RICKMAN AND KATE WINSLET JOIN TCM IN SEARCH FOR BEST BRITISH SHORT FILM FOR 2005

TCM (Turner Classic Movies) launches its sixth annual TCM Classic Shorts competition on 16th May. For the first time the launch takes place as part of the prestigious Quinzaine des Realisateurs (Directors' Fortnight) during Cannes Film Festival. As with previous years, the awards ceremony is held during The Times bfi 49th London Film Festival in the autumn (20th Oct - 3rd Nov) at the National Film Theatre. The shortlisted titles will be screened at the awards and within the Short Cuts and Animation strand as part of TCM's continued sponsorship of the LFF.

Each year, the competition grows in stature and exposure, which is reflected by the film industry luminaries who are giving their valuable time to participate as judges in TCM's search to find the best short film of 2005. TCM is delighted to welcome its first female director, Gurinder Chadha, on to the panel this year.

TCM Classic Shorts is now established as one of the most prestigious and valuable short film competitions in Europe with £10,000 of prize money. Having discovered some of the best new film making talent in the UK in recent years, this year looks to be as popular as ever. Since the competition began, many of the short-listed films have gone on to receive further acclaim. Last year's winning film, Nits directed by Harry Wootliff received a BAFTA nomination, whilst 2002 entry Brown Paper Bag directed by Michael Baig Clifford and 2001 winner About A Girl directed by Brian Percival, both went on to win BAFTAs for Best Short Film. Nits will be screened on 20th May at Quinzaine des Realisateurs (Directors' Fortnight) during Cannes Film Festival.

TCM Classic Shorts is open to all UK made short films. The opening date is 1st May 2005 and all films must be received by 1st September 2005 at the very latest. The short-listed nominations are aired during a special weekend of programming on TCM and also screened at The Times bfi 49th London Film Festival during the awards ceremony.

The judging panel comprises:

Gurinder Chadha Director: Bhaji on the Beach; Bend it Like Beckham; Bride & Prejudice

Alan Rickman Actor, Producer, Director: Die Hard; Truly Madly Deeply; Love Actually

Kate Winslet Actress: Titanic; Enigma; Iris; Finding Neverland

Helen Mirren Actress: Calendar Girls, Gosford Park, Prime Suspect 6 (TV)

Julian Fellowes Writer, Producer, Director: Gosford Park; Vanity Fair; Separate Lives

Rhys Ifans Actor: Notting Hill; Vanity Fair; Enduring Love

David Morrissey Actor, Director: The Deal; Blackpool; Basic Instinct 2

Stephen Woolley Producer: The Crying Game; The Wild and Wycked World of Brian Jones

Paul Trijbits Head of The New Cinema Fund, UK Film Council

Richard Jobson Film Critic, Writer, Producer, Director: Sixteen Years of Alcohol

Colin Kennedy Editor of Empire magazine

Matt Mueller Editor of Total Film

Wendy Ide The Times bfi London Film Festival, short film programmer

Nick James Editor of Sight & Sound magazine

Chris Law Managing Director - UK Territories, Warner Brothers

Tina McCann General Manager of Turner Entertainment Networks Europe


Further information and entry forms are available at: www.tcmonline.co.uk/classicshorts

and for further information about The Times bfi London Film Festival, please log on to: www.lff.org.uk

TCM (Turner Classic Movies), a Time Warner company, launched in Europe in 1999. The channel draws on an extensive library of timeless movies presenting them in a contemporary style. The channel is available via cable and satellite and reaches over 9.8 million UK households. In 2004 TCM was the 3rd highest rated movie channel behind Sky Movies 1 and Sky Movies 2.

London takes centre stage at Cannes

£400 London short sits alongside big name productions on Cannes shortlists

London will take centre stage at the world’s most prestigious film festival this week, as the star of Woody Allen’s eagerly awaited UK debut Match Point. New York’s favourite director shot this dark thriller, which stars Scarlett Johansson and James Nesbitt, all over the UK capital last summer – choosing London’s skyline landmarks like ‘The Gherkin’ (30 St Mary Axe) and Tate Modern. Allen is poised to make his second London film later this year.

Match Point will screen outside of the Official Competition on Thursday 12 May. Alongside it will be Chromophobia another high profile feature from one of London’s emerging big talents, director Martha Fiennes (Onegin). Her darkly comic film, set and shot in contemporary London and starring Penelope Cruz, Damien Lewis and James Nesbitt, has the coveted position as the selection for the festival’s closing night gala.

Another London contribution to the festival shows you don’t have to have a big budget to compete in the world’s most celebrated film event. The Man Who Met Himself, a short film shot on Super 8 by four London film-makers with a staggering budget of £400, has caught the eye of selection officials and screens as part of the Short Film Palme d’Or. With the support of Film London, the short will receive its debut screening at Cannes on Wednesday 18 and Friday 20 May.

To consolidate these achievements 16 May will see ‘London Day’ on the Riviera. Top London film talent including Stephen Frears and Gurinder Chadha are joining Film London, the city’s media agency, to mark a day of events celebrating London’s contribution to global film production.

‘London Day’ kicks off with a press conference where film-makers Paul Hitchcock, (Mission Impossible) and Sandy Lieberson (Performance) together with Film London Chief Executive Adrian Wootton will launch the results of the 12 month Film London Executive Task Force to make London a more film-friendly city.

Other events on the day include a head-to-head discussion with UK film-makers Stephen Frears and Gurinder Chadha who will talk about the unique qualities of film-making in London.

‘London Day’ also sees the launch of London Plus, a new partnership between the South East’s major film studios, screen agencies, post production sector and leading production crew. Under the scheme producers from around the world will be able to arrange to scout locations, source crew and find a studio stage or post production facility with a single phone call or email. London Plus will cement London’s position at the heart of European film industry and boost film production in the capital.

‘London Day’ – Monday 16 May 2005

9:00am

Press conference at the UK Film Centre

With Paul Hitchcock, Producer (Phantom of the Opera, Mission: Impossible);

Sandy Lieberson, Producer (Jabberwocky, Performance) and Chair of Film London;

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London

11.45am-1pm
The Script Factory Head To Head: Gurinder Chadha talks to Stephen Frears
Two of the UK’s finest exports, Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham, Bride & Prejudice) and Frears (Dirty Pretty Things, Mrs Henderson Presents) explain why they love making movies in London.

3-4pm
The Script Factory - panel event TBC
***
The London Plus partnership of leading figures in UK production includes four major studios: Pinewood-Shepperton, Ealing, 3 Mills, Elstree and the three regions film commissions including Screen East, Screen South and Film London and UK Post, an umbrella organisation representing the UK post production and visual effects sector in the South East and the Production Guild of Great Britain. www.londonplus.org

Film London is the strategic agency for film and media in the UK’s capital. Film London sustains, promotes and develops London as a major international film-making and film cultural capital. This includes all the screen industries based in London – film, television, video, commercials and new interactive media. Film London is supported by the UK Film Council and the London Development Agency through Creative London. Film London also receives significant support from Arts Council England London, the European Regional Development Fund, the Mayor of London and Skillset.

See: www.filmlondon.org.uk

TOP INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE JOINS IN-FUSIO'S SUPERVISORY BOARD

Interactive Entertainment Veteran Executive Jeffrey Lapin
Appointed Vice Chairman to IN-FUSIO's Supervisory Board

Bordeaux - May 3, 2005 - IN-FUSIO, the international mobile games publisher and players community management provider, announced today that its shareholders have confirmed the appointment of top industry executive, Jeffrey Lapin as Vice Chairman to the company's supervisory board. Lapin has extensive executive experience within the interactive entertainment industry as the former Chief Executive Officer and Director of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), and previously, the Vice Chairman, Chief Operating Officer and Director of THQ, Inc (NASDAQ: THQI).

"Jeff Lapin's extensive understanding of the games industry and successful publishing models will add a great deal to IN-FUSIO," said Gilles Raymond, Co-CEO and founder of IN-FUSIO. "His senior management experience and network will also help IN-FUSIO to strengthen its unique position as a mobile game service provider in our fast growing market."

"My decision to join IN-FUSIO's board is motivated by the company's unique strategy and position in the market. Beyond the games, IN-FUSIO is building through its player community services what the wireless entertainment will look like in a few years," said Lapin. "This is an exciting opportunity in a fast evolving industry and I look forward to help guiding IN-FUSIO's growth."