Theatre Design & Technology - Oct 1971 - 34

He supports the Wagnerian view that
stage director is of equal importance to
conductor, thereby further encouraging
elevation of the director's status in
musical hierarchy of opera.

the
the
the
the

Setting aside the idiosyncracies of presentation for a moment, the book remains a
unique contribution filled with many important ideas and procedures. Several years
ago, I wrote to a well-known book-reprint
house requesting they republish Volbach's
book. They wrote back saying there was
not enough demand and had decided todrop
the project. However, Archon Books have
found it advisable to publish a second edition of this pioneering work, thus making it
available to the burgeoning grass-roots
opera field. In spite of its problems, the appearance of the book is most welcome and
should be on the shelves of opera workers
who read with a discerning eye.
Henry A. Wicke, Jr.
Packer College

American Cinematographer Manual

In a few cases the articles serve to introduce tables of data and clarify details which
might be met on a given day. But, in most
cases, the informative text stands apart
from data in that it is more suitable for
study and homework, requiring careful reading. Granted the articles are explicit, detailed, and well edited, but their presence
in a handbook of field utility seems to add
bulk where not needed. These sections
suffer more than the data areas in the total
lack of reference to outside publications
throughout the manual. Certainly the article
on Blue Screen and related traveling-matte
systems is broad in view, concisely written,
but in application one would desire more
elaboration of details than could be expected in such a source. The references
need not be an exhaustive bibliography, but
a few key indications where further data and
details can be found would certainly help.
As I am not regularly required to reference such material, I cannot testify to its
accuracy or ideal arrangement. However,
the ease with which I could read the tables
and diagrams can only be a tribute to their
clarity and distinguished layout. For the
worki ng cinematographer this manual should
be as indispensable as his camera.

Joseph V. Mascelli and Arthur Miller,
Eds. American Society of Cinematographers. Hollywood: 1966. 626 pp.
$12.50.
For the professional this is a welldesigned and carefully produced field handbook of a size suitable for carrying everywhere. There are essentially two classes of
information, data and informative text. The
data consist of diagrams, tables, listings,
and charts, all set in clear type where obviously ease of use and clarity have been
emphasized. The variety of articles from
TV problems, special processing techniques,
and illumination concerns serves as much
more than merely an introduction to the
data. The technique of double index, with
major content classes marked in the page
margin so one can thumb through to find
a topic, and the detailed reference at the
back are fine features. Such care in functional concern is reflected in use of gray
areas of tables to highlight normal choices
of parameters. In addition the tables have
been integrated so that a given parameter
as "Factor" is so defined that its value
works interchangeably from one table to all
others in which it is used.
This edition of the manual is designed to
take into account the increased use and
availability of easily portable, good quality,
color, sync-sound equipment. The considerable data for conversion of frame size to
TV frames and similar concerns reflect the
broad usefulness of film that is supported
by this reference book. While it is impossible to remain current with latest technical advances, data is offered with future
impl ications in mind such that conversions
to new problems should be made easy.

C.R. Land
Harvard University

BOOKS FOR REVI EW
Simon's Directory of Theatrical Materials,
Services and Information
The Art of Make-up for Stage, Television
& Film
An Introduction to Cinematography
Theatre 3: The American Theatre 19691970
The Bauhaus
Costume in Pictures
I nvitation to the Theatre
Stage Lighting
Planning and Management of Public
Assembly Facilities
The Actor at Work
Shakespeare's Blackfriars Playhouse
Scene Design-A Guide to the Stage
Les Voies de la Creation Theatrale
Early America n Stencils
Perspective
Costumes of the Greeks and Romans
Pattern and Design with Symmetry
The Triumph of Maxmillian I
A History of American Acting
An Introduction to the Greek Theatre
Durgnat/Films 188

THEATER DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

OCTOBER,1971

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Oct 1971