American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1941)

MOTION pictures are fully as important to National Defense as steel! This is not the visionary statement of an imaginative publicist, but the considered opinion of a hardheaded professional soldier, Major General Joseph 0. Mauborgne, Chief Signal Officer of the United States Army. And the Government is backing this opinion with action: through the Army's Signal Corps on the one hand, and the Research Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on the other, all of Hollywood's incalculable technical and creative resources are being thrown into the making of instructional motion pictures by means of which recruits for Uncle Sam's growing army can be taught the latest methods of mechanized and streamlined warfare. "By means of these films," states General Mauborgne, "we can train soldiers at least four or five times as quickly — and much more thoroughly — than would be possible by any other method. Therefore when the passage of the Selective Service Act so vastly expanded the Army's personnel-training problems, our training-film production had to be expanded, too, to keep pace with the Army's needs. So we have turned to the motion picture industry for help: and thanks to the efforts of Col. Nathan Levinson, of the Academy's Research Council, and its manager, Capt. Gordon Mitchell, we find the industry mobilized — ready and eager to help us in any way it can. "During the past two or three months a permanent organization for this work , . ijtt " Tt "&> 'isk^ '-* Major General J. O. Mauborgne presentinq Special Academy Award to Col. Nathan Photo by Pat Clark. Levinson. MOVIES FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE An Interview With MAJOR GENERAL J. O MAUBORGNE Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Army and COL. NATHAN LEVINSON Vice-chairman, Academy Research Council has been set up. Already, the first two films have been completed and sent to Washington for official delivery to the War Department. And I think those two films speak more eloquently than I could of the way the industry is cooperating with the Army. For these two films represent Hollywood's best talent in every creative and technical department. The first picture, for example — a three-reel film on basic personal hygiene— embodies the skill of two men who have just been singled out for the industry's highest tribute, the Academy Award. It was directed by John Ford, and photographed bv George Barnes, A.S.C. "The second production — a four-reel film on health — was directed by Irving Pichel, who will also direct the third picture, the script for which is just being completed, and which will deal with military courtesies and customs. I may say we are constantly being amazed at the top-flight talent being offered us. Col. Levinson tells me that right now we have offers from S5,000,000 worth of the industry's greatest directors — that is, $5,000,000" worth if we had to pay their accustomed salaries — to donate their work gratis for future films. Among them may be mentioned such men as Frank Capra, Mervyn LeRoy, William Keighly, William Wyler, and many oth ers. It is the same in every other department of production." Everything about the way these pictures are being made stands immensely to the industry's credit. Some industries consider themselves extremely patriotic if they accept an $80,000,000 order from the Army; the motion picture industry is literally giving cooperation and talent no money could buy. Col. Levinson explains that virtually all of the essential and most expensive services — producers, directors, writers, directors of photographiy, and the like — are in one way or another being donated. Many of the normally high-salaried individuals are donating their services completely. In other instances, where essential individuals like directors of photography, recording engineers, and the like, are under contract to a studio, the studio donates their services. Others, not under contract, have agreed to work for scale. "We of the Research Council do not propose to see any profiteering in the making of these pictures," he states, "and I am delighted to say that every individual and organization in the industry is cooperating fully. The top-salaried workers are naturally in a position to donate their services, and I am suit many of the lower-salaried people would be equally eager to donate theirs: but we have agreed that we do not want to make any of these lower-salaried workers suffer economically for their patriotism." (Continued on Page 130) American Cinematographer March, 1041 101)