Start Over

Close Up (Jul-Dec 1930)

Page scan 000634 from Close Up

Record Details:

Title:
Close Up
Date:
Jul-Dec 1930
Publisher:
[London, etc., Pool]
Volume:
Close up ... devoted to the art of films
Leaf #:
000634
Language:
English
Subjects:
motion pictures, Motion pictures -- Periodicals
Collection:
Switzerland, Early Cinema, and Global Cinema
Format:
Periodicals
Contributor:
Library of Congress, MBRS, Moving Image Section
Sponsor:
Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:
As an active film magazine, CLOSE UP lasted only a short time, from 1927 to 1933. Yet the legacy of this English-language periodical, which was published in Switzerland, continues to matter. Edited by Bryher and her husband Kenneth Macpherson, CLOSE UP became THE magazine for energetic debates about the nature of cinema and manifestos imagining new forms of filmmaking and spectatorship. The magazine published articles by filmmakers, such as Sergei Eisenstein, and female literary modernists, such as H.D. and Gertrude Stein. As film scholar Anne Friedberg explains in the anthology CLOSE-UP, 1927-1933: CINEMA & MODERNISM, 'CLOSE UP became the model for a certain type of writing about film -- writing that was theoretically astute, politically incisive, critical of films that were simply 'entertainment.' For six and a half years, CLOSE UP maintained a forum for a broad variety of ideas about the cinema; it never advocated a single direction of development, but rather posed alternatives to existing modes of production, consumption, and film style.' Like Friedberg's own writing, CLOSE UP continues to be essential reading for anyone interested in the history of film and media theory. -- Eric Hoyt, 2014
Date Added:
June 20, 2024
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CLOSE UP No films containing subversive propaganda must be shown. No film likely to endanger the tranquility of any part of the British Empire must be shown. No film likely to be injurious to morality, or to lead to disorder, or to incite to crime must be shown. No film likely to be in any w^ay offensive, in the circumstances, to public feeling must be showm. A masterpiece of logical reasoning. The L.C.C. referred the matter back. The Societies were asked to give their, opinions. The London W.F.S. did so — at great length. The L.C.C. met again on October 28th. It referred the matter back. The L.C.C. met on November 4th. With a minor amendment, it passed the whole lot. Thus, my compatriots, w^as the Empire saved from disaster on the night of November 4th which, as you know, is the eve of November 5th. And what is a subversive film, you ask? Don't ask the L.C.C. because they can't tell you. When they were requested to define the term, they merelv expressed startled amazement that anybody should suggest that a film society should be permitted to show a subversive film. So that makes that perfectlv clear. You must not endanger the tranquility of any part of the British Empire. Plot for film scenario. Executive (not less than twelve) of a film society in agitated conclave, feverishly wondering w^h'ether the new Russian film will cause riots, disturbances and sudden death in the Fiji Islands if shown to their members at the Magnificent Cinema, Piccadilly, London. No immorality. Again the L.C.C carefully refrains from 420