Documentary News Letter (1942-1943)

DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER NO V E MB E R -DEC E M BER 1942 NOTES OF THE MONTH Comic Cuts why is there never any good working-class dialogue in British films? Script-writers always seem to know how the middle and upper classes speak and behave, but they make everybody else either inarticulate and noble or glib and funny. And this applies to both studio and documentary films. The dialogue of Mrs. Miniver's station master was not more untrue to life than the dialogue of most characters one sees on the screen, in post office, factory or pub. Maybe all our film-makers are incorrigibly middle-class, or perhaps the job of film-making confers middle-classdom on its addicts, or maybe it is that our script-writers really believe that they are writing good honest dialogue all the time. If somebody makes a film about Welsh coal miners they usually take the trouble to keep their ears open roundabout the Rhondda or even if they don't do this they call in Mr. Jack Jones to help. Yet everybody thinks that they can write special "true to life" dialogue for, say, cotton spinners or bus conductors. Of course if the worker is looked at as something remote and strange, it isn*t easy. If anybody thinks it is, let him or her sit down and try and write a few lines of dialogue between a bus conductor and a machinetool maker on the subject of (a) food rationing, (/>) Darlan, (c) the successor to Len Harvey; or if this is too complicated, a peace and war-time factory girl's reactions to — (</) news of her fiance's immediate leave, (b) a gift of two pairs of silk stockings, (c) rumours of an invasion. Army Training Films the problem of training films in the Armed Forces is apparentlj not yet satisfactorily solved. We say "apparently" because security reasons make it difficult to gel detailed information. It is said that army training films have in recent months shown a marked improvement, although reports reaching us from various people in the Armv seem to indicate that some of the earlier stinkers are still in circulation. In any case the real problem seems to centre in the exhibition aspect. A training film shown at the wrong time might just as well not be shown at all. The circumstances of projection naturally rest with the commanding officers of units, and unless they realise thai films must be treated seriously, no system of distribution, however efficient, which the Department of Army (Cinematography can devise will guarantee proper conditions. We hear o\~ film shows to men who are tired out after a hard day's physical work; of the wrong films being shown to the wrong trainees; of enormously long shows being crammed willy-nilly into a spare morning or afternoon. It is true enough that one always' hears about the bad cases and seldom about the good ones. But there seem to be good grounds for believing that many units are not treating training films seriously. Whether D.A.K. has any power to improve this situation we don't know, but it is clear that training films, however excellently produced and efficiently circulated, are quite useless if they are not shown under reasonable conditions and at reasonable times. The problem also, on our information, applies to the Navy and the R.A.F. Tom Tiddler those spoiled darlings of to-day, the Public Relations Officers of A Job in China the various Ministries, seem to be still busy with their game of Tom Tiddler's Ground — except when they take time off to put their heads in their pinafores and say that they won't play with anybody, so there! When they play Tom Tiddler it's not so bad. All you have to do is to wait in the long grass and grasp them firmly as they rush past on their many merry missions. The "I won't play with you" game is much more difficult. Their favourite victim seems to be the Ministry of Information Films Division. One moment all is smiles and happy gambols, garlands are exchanged and "my dear fellow" the accepted greeting. Then somebody passes the sugar bowl without the tongs and feelings are very definitely hurt. The doors of the various offices close with ominous quiet and communications are difficult. The next stage is open warfare, blood-feud and sabotage. Com mnications are now completely broken off, while behind the scenes, those tough and powerful wires, which only operate behind locked doors, are quickly tugged. Meanwhile the world war goes on. The situation is absurd, the reasons for it often obscure and nearly always completely ridiculous. The job of Public Relations Officer is officially a new one and is no doubt attended by all the j difficulties of power which beset any new profession. Spheres have II to be determined, and the question of how far each individual officer can go without passing the buck is no doubt only established by slow methods of trial and error. Able men are often apt to think that there is nothing they cannot do and many see no reason for j supposing that films are not one of the things they can not only ' "do", but can do almost while standing on their heads. The Films Division frequently feels otherwise. A state of deadlock is I reached and subjects which are of particular interest to any one | Ministry often languish and die. After a brisk bout of Tom Tiddler I the stage of "I won't play" is quickly reached. There would seem to be room for greater co-operation between the various parties concerned. Who should make the first move is I obviously a delicate matter. If it proves too difficult we suggest that | some powerful nanny should knock the little dears' heads together. china is a long way away and transport is very difficult. Nevertheless there is great urgency for a long term propaganda campaign on our part in that country. Recent reports indicate that our representatives there have behaved with something less than tact, and that our general record in this war, let alone our specific record as regards China, has put our prestige very low. Fortunately for the United Nations, American action and behaviour is somewhat counterbalancing this state of affairs. Nevertheless we must do all we can to efface the century-old impression of superior behaviour and commercially-minded political action which is likely to die hard in Chungking and elsewhere. Much no doubt can be done by radio. But one big consignment of films specially geared to Chinese needs could be of enormous value. Some of the films should be made, if possible, to the specification of Chinese authorities in this country, and should give information on new techniques in warfare, weapons, medical and surgical practice, and especially on social organisation and activity. Others must state and explain our work in the war, our attitude to the future United Nations set-up, and our determination — as evinced by the joint cancellation of the concession treaties by ourselves and the U.S.— to march by China's side on equal terms in the future. Meantime the very successful release of Inside Fighting China — a tribute to China by the Canadian Government will represent not merely a compliment but will also begin the job of bringing an understanding of China-its people and problems— to the people of this country. This, too, is a job which must be carried on, despite the obvious difficulties of distance and transport. D.N.L. Nov.-Dec. As time, labour and paper are in increasingly short supply, we have decided to economise by combining the November and December issues. This double number has been increased in size and includes the annual index, but for subscription purposes it will count only as a normal single issue.