Larry,
Keep plugging, you are off to a great start.
One thing that is apparent in studying the work of Hurell is his use of back light. The back lights are often his key lights, with the front lights just there for detail . The whole idea is to create the feel of stage lighting which, as you know, has "kickers" all over the place......This also requires a somewhat large studio.
This is also what makes the effects of a soft focus lens really come to life. Without those little specular higlights, that back lighting creates, there would be little more than fuzz on fuzz.
And don't be too concerned about the Orthochromatic film thing, just stay away from film/dev. combinations that produce a long toe and you will have those deep shadows without brittle flesh tones.
Hope this is of some value, Bruce
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