You could almost picture the cigarette dangling from Bette Davis' lips and Humphrey Bogart leaning against the wall.

Film noir had come to a bedroom in Sussex and it had that authentic feeling suggesting the presence of a real Hollywood legend.

Bogie would probably have felt at home as a group of first-time film-makers recreated Fifties LA under the guidance of a true film great, Jack Cardiff.

The 87-year-old Oscar-winning cinematographer has filmed stars, including Marilyn Monroe, Katherine Hepburn and Laurence Olivier.

He has worked with directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and David Lean.

Last year he was the toast of Hollywood after becoming the first cameraman to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Oscars.

But on arriving in Sussex, he switched the bright lights of LA for a bedroom in Lewes to work for free on a low-budget film by a fledgling Brighton-based company.

The young film-makers, including students from Brighton Film School, are hoping their Fifties-set LA murder mystery film noir will attract the attention of the movie world and set them on the road to success.

They are thrilled at the prospect of sharing screen credits for their film Flamingo Blues with Mr Cardiff.

First-time director Robbi Stevens secured the services of Mr Cardiff after daring to chat to him on a visit to the film school.

He was so impressed with the script, he immediately offered to lend a hand.

Jack said: "I am enjoying myself tremendously. I'm not getting paid so the great thing is I can't be fired. The director wrote the script as well. I think it's marvellous and has a lot of promise.

"There is a lot of enthusiasm at Brighton Film School and, you never know, there may be another Spielberg already in the ranks."

Jack won an Oscar in 1947 for his cinematography on Black Narcissus.

He started out as a child movie star but moved behind the scenes, becoming a camera operator on the first Technicolor film made in England.

He filmed his finest work in the Forties, including The Red Shoes. In 1951 he helped Bogart win his only Oscar with The African Queen.

Jack, who has also directed films, has more projects in the pipeline and no plans to retire. He said: "I think to drop dead on the set would be the perfect way to go."

Director Robbi said: "Working with Jack has been one of the best days of my life. I have learned more on this set than you could ever imagine. The man is extraordinary, a charming person and a perfect gentleman."

The first scenes of the £30,000 film Flamingo Blues were shot at South Street, Lewes, home of one of the film's producers, Tom Leeburn. Tom, 22, said: "I think Jack was attracted to the film because it's not set in the London gangster world and hasn't got Hugh Grant in it. It's extremely inspiring and reassuring to have him on set.

"We've had people phoning up and offering to work on it for free because Jack is working on it. We're not making a student film, I suppose I would call it a post-student film. We have secured a third of the budget but are still looking for more funding."

Fellow film-maker Matthew Chadwick, 20, said: "He knows what he's doing and we can combine that with all the new talent coming through."

Johnny Lambe, 25, found himself on set with Jack on only his second day at the film school. He said: "I feel privileged and I'm going to grab the opportunity to watch him at work."

The film could be finished by the end of February, in time to secure a slot on the festival circuit.