Educational film catalog (1936)

EDUCATIONAL FILM CATALOG POWELL, MICHAEL— Continued a gestation or so stormy a birth. Mr. Powell . . . devotes the first half of his book to the long, crazy adventvire of getting a tenacious but delicate idea clothed in financial backing, a film unit, and an island to put it on; and the remainder to the crescendo of natural, emo- tional and technical phenomena which followed when he had got the second of these essentials firmly planted on the third. . . This story of a single incident in the cinema world tells (per- haps in spite of itself) much of films and their makers in general. Those who have seen The Edge of the World' will enrich an experience by reading it; those who have not are not likely to read the book without subsequently seeing what Mr. Powell made; and those who are re- luctant to admit art in the world of the cinema may find in it some revision of their opinion." Times (London) literary supplement RAND, HELEN MARGARET, and LEWIS, RICHARD. Film and school. 182p il $1.12 '37 Appleton-Century "A handbook in moving picture evaluation." Subtitle RICKETSON, FRANK H. Management of mo- tion picture theatres. 376p $3.50 '38 McGraw A manual covering the subject from the ex- ecutive's viewpoint. Deals with such points as the attractions, policy, operation and personnel, advertising, constructive stimulation and the corporate and physical structure SELDES, GILBERT VIVIAN. Movies come from America. 120p il $3 '37 Scribner [7s 6d Batsford] A profusely illustrated study of the American film industry. Published in England under title "Movies for the millions" "In 'Movies for the Millions,' a leading American critic's survey of. chiefly, the Amer- ican film, regular readers of film literature will find plenty to skip but much stimulating gen- eralisation as well. Mr. Seldes is a lively and concrete writer, but he shows a passion as well as a flair for generalisation. . . On the dangers from 'news-magazine' technique to the authenticity of the newsreel, on the 'vamp,' the ' "It" girl,' and the destructive impact of Mae West, Mr. Seldes is well worth reading. The book is fully illustrated." Manchester guardian "It is not possible by summary or quotation to give an adequate idea of the author's his- torical perspective and critical perception. One can only mention as typical his chapters on sex fllms and the significance of Mae West; on comedy from Mack Sennett to Disney, with its careful analysis of Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd and the Marx Brothers; on the star system and which comes first, the star or the film; on Griffith and the Soviet directors; his criticisms of individual films such as 'Lost Horizon,' 'Modem Times,' 'Caligari' and 'Potemkin'; his insistence throughout that movies must move, whatever else they do or do not do, and his plea to filmgoers to exercise their control over the billions of dollars of their money which are spent in producing movies. The book is further distinguished by its illustrations; they have been carefully selected, they really do illustrate the text." Sight and sound "Shows . . . 'lively' sophistication, but with it is mingled a good deal of criticaJ insight and journalistic common sense. . . Sets down a number of interpretations which have weight for the critic or the social historian, even if phrased with excessive irony." Springfield Re- publican "The discursive, sometimes polemic, tone of the whole makes for suggested, perhaps re- quired, reading by anyone film-minded, in or out of the film industry." Theatre arts monthly "He avoids gossip on the one hand and solemn or over-subtle theorizing on the other and tries to bring home to the ordinarily in- telligent film-goer the power that resides In the cinema . . . and the nature of the pleasure it yields. His commentary, which is assisted by a large number of well-chosen illustrations, is unfailingly pointed; his taste in fllms is catholic without affectation." Times (London) literary supplement STRASSER, ALEX. Ideas for short films. 80p 2s 6d '37 Link house "Simple scripts for amateurs. Translated by P. C. Smethurst." Subtitle "Mr. Strasser has followed up his useful book 'Amateur Films' by 'Ideas for Short Films,' in which the emphasis falls on what to film rather than how to film it. . . Every owner of a cin6 camera who is interested in the creative aspect of his hobby should acquire this book." Sight and sound TOWNES, MARY E. Teaching with motion pictures. 25p 25c '38 Teachers college Consists of three parts: The educational film as a teaching aid; The theatrical film as an educational force; Making motion pictures in the school. The whole forms a very complete guide to information and materials available on these phases of the motion picture VISUAL aids in the service of the church. 32p pa 50c '37 Harmon found. "A bulletin on methods and materials based on the experience of students in the Divinity School of Yale University." Subtitle WARREN, LOW. Film game. 236p 11 10s 6d '37 Laurie "This is an informal and pleasantly discursive volume on various aspects of the history of the fllm industry, more particularly its early years in this country. . . There is not a little to entertain the reader in the account of early methods of fllm-making; and there are inter- esting sketches, in which appear some notable figures. . . He has also sensible, if not very novel, things to say about the coming of the 'super-cinema' and the decay of the provincial theatre, about censorship, about future film developments in the field of entertainment and in matters of religion and politics, and so on. There are some well-assorted illustrations, in- cluding a scene from 'King Charles,' the first British film to be marketed on an 'exclusive' basis." Times (London) literary supplement WATTS, STEPHEN, ed. Behind the screen; how fllms are made. 176p il $2.50 '38 Dodge [8s 6d Barker] Contents: The producer, by Hunt Stromberg; The director, by George Cukor; Scenario writ- ing, by Frances Marion; The art director, by Cedric Gibbons; Clothes, by Adrian; Casting, by Billy Grady; Make-up, by Jack Dawn; The actor—I, by Leslie Howard; The actor—II, by Lionel Barrymore; Photography, by Lee Garmes; Colour, by N. M. Kalmus; Sound, by Douglas Shearer; Film music, by Herbert Stothart; The cutter, by Margaret Booth; Public relations, by Howard Dietz; Distribution, by S. Eckman, jr. "Not Intended for the expert, this book is a readable guide and informative in a limited way. Its limitation springs from the fact that almost all the contributors work for one produc- ing company." Manchester guardian WOLTERS, N. E. B. Modem make-up for stage and screen, rev ed il 3s 6d '37 Dickson Deals with the art of make-up for both pro- fessionals and amateurs. First published in 1935 the book has been revised and a chapter on the particular make-up problems produced by television and color photography has been added. Contains a reference chart of fifteen male and female characters "Comprehensive and detailed." Sight and sound Xll