American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1945)

% vi 'j9f| ii M \ |\fr| j ■VHjr 1 | ! 1 || i) VS; ■p \j I 11m H 7. Bringing The Bible To The Screen By ALVIN W Y C K 0 F F, D.St., A.S.C. AN old adage tells us that “there is nothing new under the sun.” That >• phrase was coined before there was a place called Hollywood. Something new under the Hollywood sun (or arc lights) has happened! An idea, new in motion pictures, has sprouted and grown into a healthy business of entertainment, almost without notice. That idea is the making of sound mo¬ tion pictures for church, school and home from Bible stories. Making these pic¬ tures both educational and entertaining. The company making these unusual motion pictures, all released on 16mm. film, is known as Cathedral Films, and is located at 6404 Sunset Boulevard, Hol¬ lywood, California. It is a non-profit picture company, organized solely for the interest of the church, and was con¬ ceived by two brilliant men, the Rev. James K. Friedrich and John T. Coyle. The Rev. Mr. Friedrich, in addition to his film production work, is assistant rector of St. Marks in Van Nuys, Cali¬ fornia, and also is conducting experi¬ mentally, a Visual Aid Sunday School in Sherman Oaks, where the children are gathering enthusiastically each Sun¬ day to see the Bible stories on the screen. Those children do not have to be urged to go to Sunday School. They can’t wait for Sunday to roll around. And they are learning rapidly and effectively the teachings of the Bible while being en¬ tertained. Several years ago Coyle, a motion pic¬ ture director and producer, as well as an inventor of many new innovations in making the effect sequences, met the Rev. Mr. Friedrich. They exchanged ideas and almost immediately decided to start the production of religious films. The result was the forming of Cathedral Films, and the start of something new in motion picture making. The first venture of Cathedral Films, “The Great Commandment,” was a for¬ tunate financial success. The film was purchased by 20th Century-Fox at a fig¬ ure reported to be around $200,000.00, and which is said to have netted Ca¬ thedral Films a profit of $70,000.00. This was a happy start, for unlike most motion picture companies, this company is not financed by stockholders, subscrip¬ tion or contributions. The Rev. Mr. Friedrich started the company with his own money. So, when the first picture netted a $70,000 profit, he turned that money right back into the business and had working capital to carry on the plans for the Biblical pictures for the churches, schools and homes. You see, the Rev. Mr. Friedrich is one churchman whose vision encompassed a broad expanse of horizon, combining idealism with a surprising practical mat¬ ter-of-factness. He believes the church should get into the community life of the people, and that moving pictures can carry a message which will instill a spiritual thought, entertainingly, in the minds of those people who have drifted away from spiritual thinking which is necessary to keep their eyes looking toward a higher goal. He had faith in his idea that motion pictures depicting Biblical episodes would be accepted if the Biblical characters walked and talked like human beings we know as our neighbors; if the char¬ Top left. Christ heals the paralyzed man in "Man ot Faith". Top right, The Rev. James K. Friedrich and John T. Coyle discuss the script during production. acters were shown as men and women of feeling, passion and intrigue. Above all, they must be entertaining. He be¬ lieves that one GOOD motion picture can deliver a more eloquent sermon to more listeners than the most eloquent sermon delivered from a pulpit. The results seem to prove that he is right. The religious films made by Cathedral films have a national release. Distribut¬ ing organizations which are supplying the nation with these unusual films are located in twenty-eight states, Canada and Hawaii. There are a total of 61 of these distributing organizations at this writing, and the number is rapidly in¬ creasing. Throughout the nation these films are being shown in homes, churches, clubs and schools in ever-increasing num¬ bers. In Sunday School work they have been rapidly gaining ground. The following excerpt from Very Rev. Hugh Lavery, M.M., Director Maryknoll, Los Angeles, Calif., gives some idea of what the churchmen think of the religious films: “I have twice seen your film, “A Certain Nobleman,” and was delighted and much impressed by it. It conveys a great les January, 1945 • American Cinematographer