Documentary News Letter (1940)

DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER JULY 1940 order will have any practical effect. The barricades of procedure and precedent must be blown up without delay ; and any persons who tally with Priestley's analysis must be moved to posts in which they are less liable to interfere with the War Effort. The law of libel naturally prevents us from amplifying further. In the meantime, the entire British Film Industry is waiting and willing to be mobilised ; and for a wider view of the situation we refer our readers to our leading article. Finally, we hope that by the time this appears in print both Sir Kenneth Clark and J. L. Beddington will have been freed from the shackles which have been for too long allowed to impede their progress. Once freed, it is up to them to show their paces. To-day and To-morrow THE URGENCIES of the battlefield and the shift of events inevitably lead to an ad hoc propaganda policy geared to the needs of the moment, and as the war situation increases in intensity, the theory behind propaganda sinks into the background. The authorities responsible for the national propaganda effort begin more and more to be satisfied if they can get something quickly on to the screens and newspapers and the radio. In fact, the scramble of contemporary events shakes the foundations of propaganda. It is time to re-affirm that no matter how desperate the war situation, the propaganda and information machine must be treated with the same seriousness as the production of shells and tanks. It is, indeed, not a second hne but a first line of defence. The danger lies in the fact that propaganda and public information is an impalpable thing. We do not at first notice its absence. Even if it is present, no one can easily get an inkling into its success or failure. The work of the Ministry of Supply can be measured in terms of millions of bullets, thousands of shells, tens and hundreds of aeroplanes and tanks. The work of the Ministry of Information cannot be measured. For that reason, it is no one's business in particular to see that it carries out its essential work efficiently. The citizen and the newspaper can easily and successfully protest at a shortage of shells ; they cannot so easily point out a wrong line of propaganda. The Importance of Road Shows IF THE INTENSIFICATION of the war causcs either the compulsory closing of cinemas in certain areas, or, for that matter, a fall in audience figures sufficient to put some houses out of business, there is much importance to be attached to the use of travelling cinema vans. A big fleet of these, constantly touring the country, could supply weekly and up-to-date films of an informational or morale nature to the population. If these vans were properly supplied with new and up-to-date material, much of which could be designed from the nontheatrical viewpoint, their value would be very great. Have any plans been made? Evacuation? WE HOPE that there is also a plan on the files of the Films Division for keeping film production machinery in being should conditions arise which render production in London difficult or impossible. The production of films to give essential [A ipon itIOE kar spa; may iiJa information to the public in visual terms, and to sustain morale, would be more than ever important under blitzkrieg conditions. An evacuation plan for a film production centre clearly should form a part of any general evacuation scheme for the Government services. To instal a complete production unit outside London would not be difficult but it would need considerable advance planning. "Be Careful, Girls!" ATTACHED TO the newsreels exhibited during the week ending June 15th was a short film instructing the public what to do in the event of meeting an incendiary bomb. We are shown a little cylinder, which we are told is an incendiary bomb ; its fall on a house is staged and we see a room in flames. The use of a stirrup pump is explained, and the family turns out to extinguish the incendiary bomb. We see the head of the household working the stirrup pump, expressing boredom at being made to work so hard. The incendiary bomb is put out in a very few moments, and everyone is so lighthearted that we are unable to take the episode in the least seriously. We are left with the impression that an incendiary bomb is rather an exciting toy and that it is great fun to put it out. What is the good of making propaganda films at aU if one cannot carry them out with taste and a sense of reality? _. , Grapes Again WE RECENTLY disCUSSed (DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER, March)|,,i an attack on the film version of Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, which appeared in The Motion Picture Herald {ono^ of the most influential trade newspapers in the U.S.A.). Since then the, film in question has earned full laurels ; but as a postscript we record a peculiar move which took place in Hamden, Connecticut, U.S.A., and which is reported in The Motion Picture Herald for May 18th. It appears that after the end|; title of the film a short trailer was added (described as a "new, added, happy, encouraging, yet truthful ending"), suggesting to the audience that the Dust Bowl problem no longer existed., Stop Press AS WE GO to press the appointment of Sidney Bernstein toi the Films Division of the Ministry of Information is announced This news has been welcomed by all sections of the fil industry. Bernstein is not only an important figure as am exhibitor, but also has studied all sides of the film industry. It should also be remembered that the Film Society movement in the country owes him an incalculable debt. His appointment is the most encouraging sign of the past few months Comings and Goings ONCE AGAIN we announce changes on the Editorial Board.' Paul Rotha and William Farr have both resigned, the lattei^ to take up a post at the Films Division of the Ministry oJ Information. The fofmer's absence will be keenly felt, as h« did much to organise and establish documentary news LETTER in its early stages. In their place we are very glad tc announce that Donald Taylor and John Taylor have joined the board \