Norman McLaren by Nichola Dobson

Author:Nichola Dobson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

This change in his tone suggests that these working practices do not suit his own style. He feels that there is a lot of waste in terms of time and resources and longs for the freedom to return to making political films. He is still clearly affected by what he has experienced in Spain and is keen to be ‘useful’ once more. Only three weeks later he tells Helen that he is quite, ‘fed up with GPO stuff just now’ (8 February 1937).15 His experiences begin to change once he is given more work to do and perhaps has some control over the process. By May he describes a film that he is working on as useful work, again reinforcing the notion of what film should, or could be to him.

In July 1937, Grierson left the GPO and McLaren was left wondering what would happen, ‘Grierson has left GPO now. Stuart Legg is in charge at the moment – temporarily – tho there’s a chance he may become permanently – I hope so – I dont know him well, but what I do know of him makes me hope he will remain in charge’ (July 1937).16 His mentor had gone, but McLaren carried on in London and at the GPO for another two years, during which time he made his own films, which he described in letters to Russell, telling her about an upcoming screening at the GPO of their work, ‘“North to Sea” “Mony a Pickle” “Trailer” – lots of work and nervousness for all ... I’m responsible for making the “Trailer” film which will open the shows – also for the editing and supervision of Mony a Pickle & Fizzie MacAlister & self were responsible for the “kitchen” episode in Mony a Pickle’ (25 April 1938).17 In the spring of the following year he described another very busy period which outlined his latest work,

For the past 7 weeks I have been lent by the GPO to Grierson’s outfit ‘Film Centre’ for the purpose of making a short film for the Gas Light & Coke Company to publicize their latest streamlined gas cookers! [film idea spawned 2 films] ... one diagrammatic entirely, the other in actuality ... When I return to the GPO, it will be to complete experimental color cartoon which advertises New Empire Airmail rates in a very flippant way. Its dealing with the love life of a little winged letter & will be called ‘Love on the Wing’ & probably shown in the ordinary theatres ... When I go back to the GPO, I also have to work on some short trailer film for the World Fair at New York. (Sunday 26th March 1939)18

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