Documentary News Letter (1947-1949)

86 DOCUMENTARY FILM NEWS of Haherty's handling of this story of a small French-Canadian boy, simple and superstitious, brought up among the wilds of the Louisiana swamp-land, who is suddenly thrown into contact with the mechanized monsters of our oil-seeking civilization. This is a film to see and to flavour again. Preceding this were three short films, A Divided World — a new film from Sweden by Sucksdorff, about which no more need be said than that it is a worthy successor to The Shadows Over Snow, which created such a sensation last year; The Vain Bear — a delightful colour cartoon from Russia; and Dramma dl Christo — a film about the paintings of Giotto, which demonstrated again the mastery and skill of present-day Italian documentary film-makers. On Monday began the twice-daily performances in the Guild Theatre; to select is invidious, but, leaving aside Britain, which is well represented, from among foreign films mention may be made of Men of the Mists, the first Bulgarian film to be seen in this country; of a remarkable experiment in the use of film for critical assessment, The World of Paul Delvaux by Henri Storck from Belgium: Les Santons, a ballet film from France contrasting with our own Steps of the Ballet; of Ditte Child of Man, Henning-Jensen's moving story of the tragedy of illegitimacy; The Loon's Necklace from Canada — an Indian legend, brilliantly reconstructed with native masks; Goemons from France — a fine if depressing study of life on a barren island where seaweed is gathered; of La Rose et le Reseda, a setting of an Aragon poem from France; Zoo di Petra, another Italian film dealing this time with sculpture; The Dragon of Cracow, a delightful puppet film from Poland; Sacrifice, a grim but fine study of primitive blood rites from Sweden; Chinese Shadow Play — a delightful study of one of the oldest forms of entertainment in the world. To these could be added the first examples of documentary films to be seen here from Austria, Spain, Eire and many others, together with the first Yugoslav feature Slavitza. Tomorrow sees the first showing of a new film about Edinburgh itself, The Waverley Steps, in an all Scottish programme at the Caley Cinema, and in the evening the premiere in this country of Roberto Rossellini's new film, Germany Year Zero. Next week the programme resumes at Guild House until Wednesday, and will be repeated from September 2 to 11. Besides which there are additional films on Sundays, special educational film shows and a separate showing of children's films. Apart from the films there are biweekly lectures by well-known speakers on various aspects of the documentary film, and an exhibition of stills showing the development of the documentary technique. Last year the Documentary Festival was a small, though important, "side-show' to the main Festival. This year it is an integral part, in its own right, of this unique and moving event. I cannot leave the subject of Edinburgh without a word on the broader picture. Whether or not one's main interest is films, no one can afford to miss a visit to this great and beautiful city during these three weks. At a time when the world is again closing around us, hag-ridden with fear, we can refresh our spirits and find a new hope for the future in this international feast of beauty which is spread in bewildering profusion before us. In no other city and at no other time in this island can one find, from so many countries, cheek by jowl, opera, ballet, drama, films, art exhibitions and music, music of the people and of the world's greatest artists, and above all perhaps such a cosmopolitan mixture of men and women laughing, experiencing, and enjoying these things — and this in a setting which matches worthily the event. These things, the music, the films, the drama can. it is true, be seen or heard singly in other places, but here, together, they add up to something which transcends them all. As I write, trumpeters in scarlet and gold are coming out of the Assembly Hall to stand on the Mount and blow their call out over the city to the people in Edinburgh — and beyond them to the people of the world — to gather to hear Tyrone Guthrie's magnificent production of Sir David Lindsay's 16th century morality play, Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaits. Lindsay would have been proud of Edinburgh today. Edinburgh, August 26 THE ARNOT ROBERTSON FUND on Tuesday, July 27, the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal by Metro-GoldwynMayer Pictures Ltd. from an award of £1,500 damages made to Miss E. Arnot Robertson when she sued the company for libel and slander following a letter sent by MGM to the BBC Director of Talks suggesting that she was out of touch with the tastes and entertainment requirements of the picture-going public and that 'her criticisms are, on the whole, unnecessarily harmful to the film industry'. (The hearing of this original case began in the King's Bench Division before Mr Justice Hilbery and a Special Jury on July 16, 1947.) Immediately the result of the Appeal became known, the Film Section of the Critics' Circle announced through its Hon. Secretary, Milton Deanc, that it would launch forthwith a Tuud 10 assist Mh>s Arnot Robertson with the costs of her action, estimated at £5,000. A Fighting Fund would also be established to enable Miss Robertson to take her case to the Lords. In his statement to the Press Mr Deane said: 'We feel that a case of this sort where the original judgment, with a jury, is overturned on strictly legal points, the whole future of free and responsible criticism is in jeopardy. This new judgment might well give encouragement to all those purely commercial interests in the Cinema which would like to see Press criticism muzzled and intimidated. In the end it is the public, whom the critics serve, who will suffer.' As soon as the establishment of the Fund was announced, contributions in large and small amounts started coming in from all over the country, and one well-wisher undertook to double any subscription recei\cd up to £1.000. comrlDutions should be made payable to Mr Milton Deane. and sent to him at 1 Garrick Mansions. Charing Cross Road WC2.