American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1941)

: uiiH m.% flfis CANADA'S WAR MOVIES By CHARLES W. HERBERT, A.S.C. WITH so many foreign fields closed to American newsreel and shorts producers by the war, good news comes from good neighbors across our northern border line. Understanding the needs of American producers, the National Film Board of Canada has opened the way for closer cooperation to the end that this summer will see the greatest production activity of shorts to date in Canada. Already scheduled and in part production are a dozen reels of various sections of the Dominion. Fox Movietone News plans a "Magic Carpet" of Eastern Canada, a Sportsreel of Eastern Canada and a War Effort reel. Pathe plans a "Sportscope," Paramount a War Documentary reel, Fitzpatrick a Technicolor reel on Ontario and another on Quebec. Columbia has released a travelogue on Quebec. The March of Time will do their second "Canada at War" feature and Universal will release a "Going Places" reel on Victoria, B. C. and produce a reel of Quebec and another in the Canadian Rockies. In addition Universal will break into the color field with some Canadian-made material. Burton Holmes is now including a sweep across Canada in his motion picture lecture series for next winter. All of this current activity ties in closely with the United War Effort Plan of Canada to not only acquaint the Empire with what Canada is doing for its part, but also to make a large bid for the American Tourist Trade. For the first time American producers are being offered by Canada a full measure of cooperation and facilities so essential for the production of newsreel, travelogues, sports and documentary films. Special invitations and inducements have also gone out to still-picture photographers and amateur movie makers in the United States. This manifold plan has been conceived and is being directed with the tireless efforts and skill of John Grierson, recently appointed Film Commissioner for the Dominion. The National Film Board established in the Spring of 1939 thus embarked on Frame enlargements from Canada's War Films. Two pictures at top, troops leaving for overseas; third, aboard a Canadian destroyer; fourth, instructress in air-training plan; below, grain for Britain's bread; bottom, making textiles for the Army. Courtesy National Film Board, Ottawa. a career of urgently needed activity. Grierson is a native of Scotland, has for many years been one of the fore-fc most exponents of the documentary film and was previously the head of the film I unit of the Empire Marketing Board audi film-production chief for the General Post Office of Great Britain, with offices • in London. He has travelled extensively i in Europe and the United States and has a direct understanding of International film needs, methods and markets. It is not a new thing for a Government to make motion pictures. There's hardly a country that has not seriously engaged in motion picture production through special film departments or along with local commercial producer.-. Various departments of the United States Government have produced and stored up a vast library of films. While most of these films have been ch-eulated here and there and many are good, they were woefully lacking in two vital essentials for complete realization of the vast field of use that lies ahead of any newlylaunched film. Like a ship they might sail on and on to the far corners of the world if they have the needed propelling force and guidance. To attain the full scope of distribution a film must necessarily come up to the standard of technical perfection established by major producers. And it must be definitely entertaining. It is these two qualities that have been lacking in most Government-conceived and produced films. Too often, experts in their own field of endeavor — agriculture, trade, industry, education, etc. — have planned and produced films with little knowledge of motion picture technical or entertainment requirements. Their finished product has pleased themselves, their associates and followers, but has usually failed to attain theatre circulation or any extensive distribution where the public car. see their work. There is of course the exception of films produced by totalitarian Governments who demand that their films be consistently screened in the theatres in lands where their word is law. The United States Film Service, under able direction of Pare Lorentz. with Floyd Crosby, A.S.C, cooperating on the camera, brought forth Government-pro (Continued on Page 396) 370 August, 1911 American Cinematocrapher