National Board of Review Magazine (Jan 1939 - Jan 1942)

Community Councils NOT leaving the field entirely to the critics, Motion Picture Councils and other community groups, interested in motion picture study, recorded their second annual opinion poll in voting on the 10 best pictures of 1941. The result of this vote was, in order of preference : Sergeant YorkBlossoms In the Dust Here Comes Mr. Jordan The Little Foxes Meet John Doe One Foot in Heaven The Philadelphia Story Cheers for Miss Bishop Fantasia Citizen Kane While these 10 pictures received the greatest number of votes there were several close runners-up, including Kitty Foyle, How Green Was My Valley, That Hamilton Woman, Men of Boystown and Land of Liberty. More than 60 titles were mentioned in the various lists received, indicating the wide variety of judgments on the best pictures. These votes coming from communities large and small in 22 different states, from clubs, colleges, museums as well as Councils, form a representative cross section of opinion from those who patronize and who study the movies. A list was sent to the various groups near the end of the year to aid them in their voting. This list was made up from the monthly vote on the five best pictures sent in by the groups during the year on forms provided by the National Council. There is uncertainty about whether to continue this monthly vote through 1942. Some groups reported they liked to secure these current votes, that it centered attention on the good pictures as they came along, that it made the group members conscious of whether they were seeing the best pictures, and that it aroused interesting discussion at meetings. On the other hand some reported it was too much work, that they couldn't get an accurate opinion through a verbal vote and didn't have time to secure tabulated votes and one or two alas said, "We don't see the best pictures." Just because it did arouse these reactions is perhaps reason it should be continued. Let us know what you think. But even if the month by month vote is not taken there will be, of course, again the annual vote at the end of the year so we can be thinking in a comparative way of the pictures as we see them from January on. And tell us if you wish to register your group opinion through the year. The votes of the Committee on Exceptional Photoplays and the Review Committee of the Board on the 10 best are recorded elsewhere in this magazine. THE annual report of the St Louis Better Films Council reports that the Libraries of Greater St. Louis are most cooperative in giving space on the bulletin boards to the approved lists. This Council also reports progress made in bringing motion picture appreciation to the students of the St. Louis Public Schools. This is being accomplished through the cooperation of the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent. The Council appreciates the privilege of working with the youth of the schools and is impressed with the friendly spirit of cooperation. THE Better Films Council of Grand Rapids (Mich.) conducted as one of its outstanding 1941 activities "a survey to give Grand Rapids citizens of all ages and classes an opportunity to express their attitude toward motion picture entertainment." At the starting of the survey Mrs. J. W. Livingston, President of the Council, wrote: "Since we wanted a cross section of answers from school children under sixteen years of age, as well as those of adults from sixteen up, we made up two questionnaire forms. The children's questionnaire, with the approval of the Board of Education, we distributed through the schools. Each of our forty-five grade schools was covered, although not more than two grades in each 12