Documentary News Letter (1942-1943)

DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER JANUARY 1942 FILM SOCIETY NEWS Belfast Film Institute reports that two shows have so far been held, both in the Grosvenor Hall, Belfast, which for two seasons has been the only meeting place available to the Society. Although the accommodation has been spartan, and sound and vision reproduction below the standard of the usual cinema, the Society has been able to carry on, and the last two shows have been very successful. Renoir's La Marseillaise at the first show and Chapavev at the second, were attractive for their political message at the time, and both films attracted many people not before interested in the Society's work. Supporting films for the second show were the Polish abstract Three Studies from Chopin. Northern Outpost and the Point of View film As Idleness a Viee'.'— well worth showing for its entertainment value. For the third show the Society had a tremendous stroke of luck. A cinema had become available for the Society's use— a new and comfortable house of just the right size, within easy reach of the city centre. This was so welcome that we are confident the future of the Society will be much more secure. The programme for the third show included Vigo's Zero de Conduite, an example of a serious film in a surrealist manner, and an early Marx Brothers crazy comedy — Monkey Business. The Committee have great expectations of arousing interest by such violent contrasts of styles and subjects. The Aberdeen Film Society has decided to continue its activities for the present season and to hold at least six performances. In order to enable those members who have undertaken A.R.P., Civil Defence and Home Guard duties. and also those in the Services, to attend the exhibitions of the Society, kind permission has been granted by the magistrates to hold afternoon and evening performances throughout the season. The same films will be shown at the afternoon and evening sessions. The first exhibition was held on 12th October when the films Ignace, Tommy Atkins. Scene in Bali and Marshland Birds were shown. The second performance of the Society was given on 16th November and the films exhibited were Retain a TAube, Border Weave, Robber Kitten and It Comes from Coal. The date of the next performance was 14th December and the films screened were La Grande Illusion and Water Birds. The membership for the present season is 352, which is considered very gratifying in view of the fact that a large number of old members are serving in H.M. Forces. Tyneside Film Society. The first part of the season, consisting of four film shows held on Sunday afternoons in the Ha\ market Theatre. Newcastle-on-Tyne, has been successfully completed, the membership being about 750. The programme for December 7th was When the Pie Was Opened (Lye), And So to Work (Massingham), and Lenin in October; and on December 14th The Plow that Broke the Plains (Lorentz), Modem Inventions (Disney) and Le Bonheur. It is hoped to continue the season with four further exhibitions. These will definitely be held if sufficient subscriptions are obtained in advance, the dates planned being February 1st and 15th and March 1st and 15th. Among the feature films under consideration are Retonr ,) /' Aube Chapavev. and Circonstances Attenuantes. Cambridge University Film Society reports that a further set of three shows is scheduled for the Lent Term, in addition to two talks. The Rich Bride is proposed for the first show as an example of a light modern Russian film. On Februan I si Jean Vigo's L'Atalante is to be shown. pro\ ided that it can be licensed by the local magistrates, together with The River. Basil Wright, President of the Society, has promised to speak on "Films and Propaganda" on February <Sth. and on February 15th Cavalcanti's new Film and Realii\ is due to be shown, pro\ ided that a copy is readv in time. On February 22nd The Last Laugh and excerpts from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari are to be shown in connection wilhh a discussion by Karl Mayer and Paul Rotha. The Edinburgh Film Guild, continuing its interesting policy of "specially built" programmes, showed on November 30th a series of Czecho-Slovakian films, including Prague. Games of Slovak Children, Czechoslovaks March On, and the Czech feature film Pied Maturitou. directed by Linneman. On December 14th pari of the programme was devoted to "Contrasts in Comedy" with examples from Chaplin, Disnev and Benchley. The feature was Accord Fine/!. The Manchester Film Institute Society and the Manchester and Salford Film Society continue their policy of joint film shows of a progressive and ingenious nature. On December 14th Le Dernier Tournant was the feature. For the spring season, beginning on January 25th, the features will include We from Kronstadt, Innocence, La Teudie Fnnemie and Alexander Nevski. The specialised show on December 6th was devoted to "Films of Science" with a very representative programme. Future shows include the B.F.I.'s Film and Reality and New Babylon. The objects of the Irish Film Society, notes on which we are glad to include on this page for the first time, are the development of film appreciation in Ireland, presentations to its members of the best artistic and educational films of all countries, promotion of the study of film-making, and of a high standard of film production in Ireland, and such other activities as are relevant thereto. During each season it is customary for the Society to arrange eight presentations of outstanding films from all countries — films most of which, for various reasons, never reach the ordinary commercial cinemas. The programmes for the first five years have included such pictures as Westliont I91S. \ibelungen Sana. Kermesse Heroiaue. Un Camel de Bal, The River. The Cheat, Quai des Brumes. Peter the Great. Dood Hater and La Grande Illusion. Representative shorts have also been shown. Recent shows have included Episode (with Paula Wessely), the Russian film White Mghts ol St. Petersburg, Guitry's Remontons Les Champs Flysees. and Lac aux Dames. Lectures are also given from time to time on various social, educational and aesthetic aspects of the film. For those interested in amateur film work, courses are held at the studio headquarters of the Society each year in which all the processes of film work are dealt with in a practical fashion. A permanent film unit of the Society also carries out experimental production of short films. It is hoped to expand the work ol the Society during the coming season in the spheres of educational films, film writing and film making. The Societj is anxious to km. members would be interested in the opportunity of can vine oul practical work of experiment and record in these directions. Much scone for teachers lies in the study of the film in relation to the child, and, apart from the development of the to those interested in the development ol native films. The Secretary of the Dundee and St. Andrews Film Society writes: "The first half of our Season concluded on Sunday, 14th December, with the feature film Noui Les Jeunes, and our activities recommenced on Sunday, January I lth. Since 1 last reported on our membership there has been a further substantial increase and the total number of members enrolled has reached a new high record total of 936. It is verv gratifving to find the Council's decision to earn, on during wartime has been so amplv justified. I iiere have been many requests for Russian films, but some difficulty has been experienced in booking arrangements and it may not be until late in the season that Russian films will be available. During this season it is our aim to present feature films of different countries presenting as diversified a list as possible, and during the first five performances the feature films have been three French, one Austrian, one Czechoslovak ian and one American. For one performance an experiment was tried of presenting two feature films instead of the feature film and a selection of shorts, and this change proved quite popular: but during the rest of the season the practice of showing one feature film will be adhered to." Scottish Churches Film Guild (Glasgow Branch i reports that transport difficulties prevented the monthly review of Religious films taking place at the usual meeting in December, but the Secretary was able to obtain substitutes which proved very interesting. Four short Ministry of Information films were shown Living with Strangers, an evacuee picture with ample scope for social service work ; it was considered a veiv good film and quite useful. The New Britain, another social service film, but lacking any indication of the religious life of the country. Neighbours under Fire, the best of the films under review from the religious aspect; all and sundry find shelter where a Rector is awaiting them and starts a "sing-song" to while away the waiting time. Welfare of the Workers, for social service purposes this film was considered quite insufficient, and it was overloaded with the subjectmatter shown. The speech at the end was overemphasised and had little to do with either the "Welfare of the Workers" or social service. The general opinion was that this was more of a propaganda or "Go to It" film than either welfare or social service. A pleasing feature of the recent meetings of the Guild is the good attendance of members, who are taking a keen interest in the criticism of the films.