Documentary News Letter (1947-1949)

DO(T Ml \ I MO Ml M M.WS Gen I lemen \s Agreemen t FESTIVAL 195 I mk swiuel goldwyn recently resigned From the Motion Picture Association ol America. On the strength of that resignation the following exchange of greetings took place between Mr Goldwyn and Mr Eric Johnston. M, Samuel Goldwyn said: ... "I have resigned from MPAA in order 10 give my undivided support to the interests of the Society of independent Motion Picture Producers. . . . The future of good motion pictures is completely bound up with the efforts o\' Independent Producers to bring this about.' Mi Johnston said: . . . During his association with us Mr Goldwyn has demon-: a unique Hair of saying one thing and doing exactly the opposite. Mr Goldwyn's fabulous material success in the motion picture industry is irrefutable proof that free enterprise tnd free opportunity exist in a very real and positive way for all producers. Mr Goldvwn's statement is the latest example of his penchant forgetting into violent disagreement with himself on all sides of a question. Mi Goldwyn retorted: 'It is unfortunate for the industry thai \li I ric Johnston's manners arc as bid as his judgment. . , , During the period thai Mr Johnston has been president the public relations o\ the industry have declined alarmingly. Mr Johnston's contributions to building line relations has consisted mostly of turning the offices of the Ml'\ \ into a personal Press bureau for Mr Eric Johnston. This is not surprising in view of die fact that all this time Mr Johnston has been preening himself to accepl call to public office. The overw helming silence of the public with respect to Mr Johnston*s political ambitions has unfortunately not prevented him from devoting his major efforts to his personal objectives. ... As far as I have been able to observe Mr Johnston's chief contribution to the economic stability of the industry has been to give it such advice as has caused the filing of law suits against the MPAA and various of its members totalling some $65,000,000 — one of which has been decided against the company involved. The industry has survived many misfortunes and I am confident that it will survive Eric Johnston.* nit. hoard of Governors of the British I ilm Institute have announced the appointment of Mr John D. Ralph as I xecutive Officer responsible for organizing the film side o! the I cstival of Britain, 1951. Mi Ralph has been associated during the last live years with the National Film Board of Canada where he served in various capacities including Production Secretary and later as Director of Distribution. He was responsible for organizing the Board's extensive network of rural circuits and urban film libraries and developing the international distribution of Canadian films through theatrical and non-theatrical channels m Great Britain, France, United States. \ tralia and other countries. Before joining the Board, he worked in radio, and films, as an actor, and later as a writer and commentator. He has also had experience in finance. VISUAL AIDS IN SCIENTIFIC & AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION I.C.I, has prepared the following lists of its productions. Copies will be sent to educational authorities who apply on their official notepaper. I.C.I. MEDICAL FILMS I.C.I. AGRICULTURAL & VETERINARY FILMS LCI. FILMS FOR SCHOOLS LCI. AGRICULTURAL FILM STRIPS Write to the LCI. FILM LIBRARY, Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, Nobel House, London, S.W.I •fa Films available in 16 mm. sound on free loan to approved borrowers. K.i Film Society Movement in Australia continued front /».; " All these libraries, like the State Film Centres. find the demand for films far and away bevond the possibilities of supply. Fortunately, however, the evergreen problem of broadening the scop our programmes has recently been thoroughly tackled by the National Film Library I a a batch of 16 mm prints which included The Cabinet of Dr Caligari; lite Battleship Potemkin; The Italian Straw Hat. and the Great Train Robbery was imported from the British film Institute. These films had a rapturous reception, and came as a blood transfusion to thcSocictv movement generally. Now we're all smiling the air like Bisto Kids, waiting for a far larger batch already on the water, and reported to contain Birth oj a Saltan; The General Line: Vfotl The Last Laugh; Mcmlmontant; The Seashelland the Clergyman, and many others too. Gone foi ever are the days when programme committees tore their hair, trvmg to decide between a mangled version o( / that Shook the ll oild and a 9.5 mm re-hash ol , ofthe World. Reared for so long on the hard feed of 'documentary-and-educationaT the Vusiralian 1 ilm Society movement is probably a little collar-proud at the moment, and apt to kick over the traces at the prospect o\~ these longdreamed-ol exotic fruits. Bui then coming will not, I think, show a swing awav from the ic.ilist film foi long, but rather that fuller appreciation ..I the achievements, the complexities and the ibilities of the medium as a whole, which should be the aim of every ' llm So. ictv.