Documentary News Letter (1947-1949)

DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER 79 haps because of this difficulty, the film tends to dwell more than necessary on the thrilN and romance that trains invariably excite in most people. The small boy collecting engine numbers is finally kicked off the station by a porter who has the same vice (presumably it takes his mind off his wages!). The Railwaymen possesses the overall technical competence we associate with the Crown 1 llm Unit. There is one particular!) good sequence oi the workshops and the musical score is first rate. If it fails to attract new workers to the railways, that is not the fault o\' the film, which docs its particular job to the best of its ability. MEDICAL FILMS (continued from page 70) And what of the amateurs, eclipsed in 1939? The indications are that they are coming back to pick up the threads where they left off, but greatly strengthened by the wide demand for films which this war has brought about. They used to be doubtful of themselves— films in teaching were an experiment— but the war experience has justified their enthusiasm, for what soldier has not been taught complicated techniques by films, and don't they know it? And what is more, their opinion is backed by scientifically designed psychological testing experiments. A technique so useful for soldiers will be equally useful for students. But slapdash technique is dead : impromptu camera-pointing is gone for ever. Hospitals and universities are already officially supporting these small film units, run bj enthusiasts who know their photography, their medicine, and their curriculum . units which are going to make films to meet the local demand, and send copies to other centres if asked. But so far we have only considered production ; the film when finished must be made available as widely as possible, for the hospital-unit film will often cost £50-£250 even if the time of the staff involved is left out of account, and it will be impossible as well as wasteful for any one centre to make itself all the films it needs. A centralized catalogue is necessary, giving details of all the films already existing, and kept constantly up to date as new films are made ; this work is now being undertaken by the Royal Society of Medicine in conjunction with the Scientific film Association, and publication is expected to begin early in 1947. A central library is needed to house the finished films, for it will be immediately obvious that it is more convenient to borrow films from a central point than from a number of scattered places. But that, a matter of convenience, is of no great importance; what is far more important is that the film, both before and after projection, should be examined and. when necessary, cleaned or repaired; for if the film is not properly looked after, its life is shortened and it may break during projection, which causes much annoyance to the audience. This 'film-maintenance' is a skilled job requiring specially trained staff and machinery, and the expense of keeping up such a stall" is not justified inasmall library. So it is in the interest of all sm ill libraries to pool resources to maintain an adequate inspection service for their films. It seems likely if they prove to be in great demand the} will be passed over to the Central Film Library The Horizon Film Unit (In association with the Film Producers' Guild Ltd.) has completed the following films in [946:— 'Picture Paper' (C.O.I.— Informational, abroad) 'Calling All Drivers' (Pans 1, 2 & 0 (c.0.1.— instructional) 'Plan for a Foundry' (Ford— Informational) 'Gold Coast Journey' (Cadbury— Background educational) 'Tools for the Job' (Ford— Dealer instructional) • PRODUCER: MAX MUNDEN • The Horizon Film Unit is at present producing films on a variety of subjects including fijing, agriculture and industry. • THE FILM PRODUCERS' GUILD LIMIl Guild House, Upper St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C.2 announce further films completed Fro : " The Technique of Anaesthesia " Series Intravenous Anaesthesia Pari '2. Signs and Stapes of Anaesthesia. Carbon Dioxide Vhsorption Technique. Respirator) and Cardiac Arrest. Operative Shock. Handling and (are of the Patient. (Available to approved medical audiences only.) From: « The Health of Dairy Cattle " Series Hygiene on the Farm. From the " Soil Fertility " Series Factors of Soil Fertility. Lime. I, tnd Drainage. PENICILLIN The storv "I it~ i|i-..i\.t\ and development, and the nse oi penicillin on u.ir casualties Other films in production \<.ill 1»«' announced when completed. Applications for the loan of these films should be made to t he Central Film Library, Imperial Institute, London, S.W.7