2 minute read
Mechenical Cinema
ISLEWORTH’S MECHANICAL Cinema
Tim Langley’s work is also his hobby and his passion
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There’s something very romantic about an oldfashioned cinema projector. Most cinemas now play films at the touch of a keypad button but seeing – and hearing - the spools of a mechanical projector turning instantly creates a sense of expectation, a true cinematic experience.
Tim Langley has nine at his home in Isleworth. “My wife Helen is very understanding” he says.
Tim restores old films – both commercially produced movies and documentaries and home movies - family treasures, rediscovered gathering dust in people’s attics. His passion for film started in the late 1970’s when his mum found him a job as a trainee Cinema projectionist when he left school.
“I will be eternally grateful to mum for picking up the phone up and making an enquiry on my behalf”.
He worked in the projection box for Odeon, EMI and Granada cinemas, then moved to Television, as a film print analyst, video tape operator and editor, telecine colourist and finally as a manager working for ITV, Channel 5, BBC, NBC Universal & A+E Networks.
Now he works for himself. ‘The Mechanical Cinema’ based in Isleworth does film restoration and repairs archival film prints for Renown Film productions and Talking Pictures TV, who specialise in releasing and showing classic ‘B’ pictures from the 1930’s to late 1960’s (channel 81 on Freeview).
“They are a joy to work on” he says, delighted that he has been able to restore lost gems from all over the world. Before
Before After
After
You can see from these ‘before’ and ‘after’ examples how he is able to remove scratches and blemishes and in this case, completely rebuild a set of film titles.
The Glass Mountain, a 1949 black and white British romantic film is one that he’s restored. A popular success in its day, it featured the violinist Tito Gobbi with the orchestra and chorus of the Venice Opera House. He’s recently uncovered a lost bit of early Bernard Cribbins. But just as satisfying was his friend’s old family films of his mother’s generation which brought her joy once she was able to see them again.
So if you have old film prints you are curious about, or, any old film projectors that just need a bit of TLC, Tim is your man. Contact him on 0208 568 8213 or info@themechanicalcinema.co.uk
