scopitonearchive

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July 2025 Internet Jukebox Film of the Month: January Jones, "I've Got The World On A String,” Scopitone S-1014

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Claude Lelouch recalls how he started making Scopitone films

"I have to pay these debts at some point and I owe money, especially to the Éclair laboratory at the time. And so one day I am summoned by the boss of Éclair, his name was Jacques Mathot, who was a difficult man. And so I am summoned, I think he is going to say unpleasant things to me. ... And instead of asking me for money, he offers me a job.  He says to me: "Would you be amused by making Scopitones?" I say: "But yes, what are Scopitones?" He says to me: "They're filmed songs that we're going to play in bars. There are new jukeboxes where you hear the sound and you see the image. They're little musicals. There you go, and I saw in your film, I thought I saw in your film that you really had a sense of rhythm, that you loved music."  And this Jacques Mathot doesn't even mention my debt. ... So I went to see this famous Gérard Sire, rue de Croix-des-Petits-Champs in Paris, who produced these Scopitones for the Cameca company, and who offered me a first film with Félix Marten which was called "La Rigolade".  And I listen to the song, not great, but it's not bad at all, etc.  And since I'm unemployed, I have nothing to do, I'm covered in debt, obviously I want to do it, obviously I like it.  And so two days later, we find ourselves in Honfleur, on a small boat, with Félix Marten, and I shoot this Scopitone in one day.  And I edit the Scopitone during the night, the next day I show it to people and they are enthusiastic. There is colossal enthusiasm, and this enthusiasm means that I will become Mr. Scopitone. I will shoot a hundred Scopitones, with all the stars of the time.  Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan, Françoise Hardy, Claude Nougaro, etc. ... And so, for two years, I think it was 1962, 1963, the years 1962-1963, I earned a lot of money ... I'm replenishing the coffers, and I'm having a blast.  And above all, I know that when I'm able to make films again, I know that music will play a very important role in my life.  I know that music will be one of the important players in my cinema ..."

For more info, see: https://entretiens.ina.fr/entretien/554/claude-lelouch/transcription/14

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June 2025 Internet Jukebox Film of the Month: Conrad Pringel, "Snapez à Mes Côtés," Scopitone CA-199

It's time to go to the beach!

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This guy is embarking on a project to transfer and archive a box of around forty 8mm Color-Sonics cartridges. Can't wait to see the results!

To this day, I've never seen an operating Color-Sonics machine. Although a few Color-Sonics films were also released as 16mm Scopitone prints and some Cinebox films were released as Color-Sonics cartridges, there is a whole library of Color-Sonics films that were only released on these cartridges, so it'll be very interesting to see what he has.

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May 2025 Internet Jukebox Film of the Month: Dion, "Runaround Sue," Cinebox

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Scopitone star Nino Tempo dies at 90

Scopitone star Nino Tempo died in West Hollywood, CA on April 10, 2025 at the age of 90. He made one Scopitone film, "Land of 1000 Dances," with his sister, April Stevens, who died in 2023. He was also an accomplished saxophone player who performed as a session musician on albums by John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, and Bobby Darin.

For more information, see:

Mark Scheer, "Wrecking Crew member Nino Tempo dies at age 90," Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, N.Y., April 12, 2025, https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/wrecking-crew-member-nino-tempo-212100247.html

Daniel E. Slotnick, "Nino Tempo, Who Topped the Charts With 'Deep Purple,' Dies at 90," New York Times, April 17, 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/arts/music/nino-tempo-dead.html

Nino Tempo & April Stevens, "Land of 1000 Dances," Scopitone S-1068, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWyJX33tAA0

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April 2025 Internet Jukebox Film of the Month: Alex Marco, "The Bike," Scopitone CA-335

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Eden Kane with director Douglas Hickox while filming Kane's Cinebox film "Forget Me Not" at Twickenham Studios in London in April 1962.

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March 2025 Internet Jukebox Film of the Month: Eden Kane, "Forget Me Not," Cinebox

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Our friend from Argentina, Marcelo Blanco, demonstrates his restored Cinebox machine!

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This is the only record I've ever seen with a film jukebox on the cover. And it's not a Scopitone, but a rare Telebox Caravelle!

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February 2025 Internet Jukebox Film of the Month: Line Renaud, “En Vacances En Italie,” Scopitone CA-61

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January 2025 Internet Jukebox Film of the Month: Paola "Les Criquets", CA-73

A little goofiness to start off the new year.

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Dalida dreams of a white Christmas. Joyeux Noël!

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December 2024 Internet Jukebox Film of the Month: Claude François, “Ce Soir Je Vais Boire,” Scopitone CA-357

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Scopitone screening at the Ridley Road Social Club in London, November 21, 2024, 7pm, which seems to be focused on the Arab and North African Scopitone films. A must-see if you're in the vicinity.