Documentary News Letter (1942-1943)

DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER APRIL 1942 "OUR FILM" By RALPH BOND "our film" is something unique in British film his mates convince the other side that a joint production, for it is the first entirely voluntary committee is the only way to solve production and co-operative film to be made by professional problems and step up output. But one of the lads workers in this country. put his foot in it by some indiscreet remark and FILMS IN U.S.S.R. Ermler is working on a film which tells the story of a raid by a Red Army division, led b\ a young Soviet General, in the German rear. 1 he script is by the celebrated writer. Alexei Tolstoy. Roshal is making a short film entitled The It started some months ago when, inspired by Just as il looks as if the argument will have to Murderer Steps Out, depicting the career of a the epic fight of the Soviet Union, a mass meeting of all employees at Denham Studios passed a resolution of solidarity with the film workers of the Leningrad Studios who were working — and fighting — under fire. After the meeting it occurred to several people German fascist leader and showing how he c to power with the aid of shady German business men and reactionary politicians. ittee (representing all the Denham trade inionists) called another meeting and it was unnimously decided that they — the workers, technicians and artists — would make a film on the theme of Anglo-Soviet solidarity and offer it to the Ministry of Information here as part of their contribution to the national effort. Three committees were set up — Script, Protction and Finance. A certain amount of money was needed to pay for materials and incidentals. By gifts, subscriptions and raffles nearly £600 start all over again, there is an unexpected interruption. The door opens and in walks a stranger. He is one of the Soviet Trade Union representatives visiting England. Forcefully and movingly L Kuieshov, one of the older generation of he demands that they stop arguing. He describes Soviet film directors, is making a film entitled Norwegians, depicting the heroism of Norwegian and So\iet ..... transport. The ppeal there is superimposed a shot of tanks scenario js by another well known Soviet the critical situation of the war. There i that resolutions were not enough. They' must be furth" ^;'rrel1"^ TDhe committee is formed and fishermen who help British airm prepared to do something specific. So the Works over the face of the Russian as he concludes his saiIor t destroy a German , rolling off the conveyor belt ready for action. That is the story of Our Film and little remains to be said except that here is a film that somehow or other should get into every cinema and every factory in the country. It is extremely well made and acted, and although there are no credits, the foremost technicians in the camera. sound, art, editing and other departments of Denham have put their best into it. Our Film admirably fits the needs of the was raised; all the technicians and artists gave moment. At a time when greater production and Joint Production Committees to achieve it is the main topic of urgency in industry, this film makes a tremendously important contribution. Its propaganda is direct, forceful and entirely logical. Congratulations to all concerned at Denham. their services voluntarily. The Management gave studio space and equipment. Denham Laboratories promised to process the film free of charge, and Kodak's donated 10,000 feet of stock. After further discussions at Works' Meetings good, tight script was prepared and production commenced. Four days of shooting and the film was completed. It runs for fourteen minutes and , much less. I saw it in cutting-copy stage. : and effects had still to be added, but there doubt that Our Film is a first-class job of work. It opens with a domestic scene in a Russian illage near ihe front line. A family is just sitting down to a meal. There is a sudden noise, the camera pans swiftly to the window. A German soldier fires his automatic rifle at the group round the table, wiping them out. Quick dissolve to a domestic scene in an Engsh working-class home. Again there is a noise, gain the camera pans to the window, but this me it is a friend of the family pantomiming to is mates to come out for a drink. One of the familv is a factory shop steward. The next sequence, shot in the factory, reveals the concern of the workers at the delay in production. Machines are standing idle through lack of materials. The men are disgruntled and angry because the Management will not meet them to discuss the position. The shop steward, a trifle nervous and hot-headed, bursts into the Manager's office and plays hell : finally, he is promised meeting. The film cuts back to the U.S.S.R. A giant factory has to be evacuated as the Nazis advance towards it. The machinery is piled on lorries, to be reassembled further east and the factory is blown up by the workers. in the English factory, the workers are electing their delegates for the Joint Production ' tee they hope to have formed. The meetng between the managers and the workers takes place. There is deep suspicion on both sides. The argument goes on. Finally, the shop steward and novelist, Konstantin Fedin Pudovkin is producing an anti-fascist film based on short stories by Bert Brecht, the famous German anti-fascist poet and author. S. M. Eisenstein, in addition to supers ising the production of short propaganda films, is prepreparing the scenario of an historical film entitled Iran the Terrible, which will emphasise not so much the personal character of this ruler, so often dealt with in films and novels, as his important historical side, his foundation oi the Russian State out of disconnected feudal princelings, his cementing of it by victories against the Tartars, and his diplomatic relations with other countries, such as the establishment of the flax trade with England. G.-B. INSTRUCTIONAL LTD. THE STUDIOS • LIME GROVE • SHEPHERD'S BUSH • W.I 2 Contractors for documentary and training films to Government Departments and principal commercial organisations. Producers of 'Secrets of Life" Telephone ; Shepherd's Bush 1210 Telegra : Gebestruct, Chisk, London