Documentary News Letter (1940)

DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER JULY 1940 17 THE REPERTORY CINEMA TO-DAY »ar, UKll lio! =N YEARS ago no One could have visualised the '•^OR lany varying types of cinema entertainment hich are available to film-goers to-day; one ouse was then as good as another in the kind of rogramme it presented. To-day, however, the public is oflFered many PPonis^rieties of cinema entertainment, and there are lany different types of programme which it may Mgi(Mijoy. There are the super cinemas with their liK »ti TO big films and a stage show; the average res. by p ase house showing two features ; the specialised km ill with its continental film seasons; the reper>ry cinema offering its own particular policy of le outstanding feature and a selection of doculentary and interest shorts, and finally. News initepiBheatres which, of course, are finding an everliieoi creasing popularity with the public, particurly under present conditions. Amongst all this vast growth in catering for e entertainment demands of the public, perolfoci ips the most interesting in its indications of the jlhji end of that same public towards discrimination theni its choice, is the development of the Repertory xsiofi inema. As far as we can ascertain this was aamea arted by Mr S. Seeman, Managing Director of K\fd e now popular Classic Group of cinemas, by \si«iiii s introduction of the policy of showing revivals Soc ■ continental and outstanding productions at le Embassy Cinema, Notting Hill Gate, in the irly part of 193.^. Since then the repertory nema has found an enthusiastic and constant appfai ilowing not only in London but also in the rge provincial towns. In examining this development of the reperry cinema it will be found that there are a R'sfa By E. C. ATKINSON small, it is built for comfort and a fostering of attention to the main business — seeing the picture, and hearing it to the best advantage. Covering a more general field, it is obvious that, to some extent, the policy of the feature houses must be inflexible ; that is to say, they are unable to react quickly enough to the desires of the public, whereas the repertory cinema can be a complete reflection of the public's desires. The repertory cinema does not have to book any or every film. Its bookings are largely governed by what its patrons want and what they have expressed a desire to see. In reality the repertories are the spearheads of democracy in the film world, because they listen to the voice of the majority and where possible act upon it. The repertory cinema performs a very important function : it acts as a film library, and preserves classics of the film world — whether they are classics as far as production, acting. !!ONI «\.m Dtsbo«^ vAm ^j(j{|Mjmber of factors which contributed to the (,f t)if 1 irticular form of entertainment now provided the repertory cinema. Firstly, there was that •eat weakness in the release system of booking, f which any one film is often to be seen in any le district for one week only, and if the film is issed the opportunity to see it is usually gone. he repertory cinema, however, solves this roblem and if the film is worthy it will be 'shown lain, although of course it may mean waiting T a few months. Secondly, there are many films which are for le reason or another, worth seeing again, and, le might say, a number worth seeing again and »ain. Most filmgoers treasure memories of a Im they have seen, and the opportunity to revive lose memories, particularly to-day, is a very ^1 desire. Thirdly, the well-established policy of one bod feature and well selected shorts is one that lakes for the perfectly balanced programme ; in .ct, it is not too much to say that the short film iS, largely due to this policy, found a special spularity. Last, but certainly not least, the atmosphere a repertory cinema is definitely different. Its ■hole personality is intimate. It is comparatively S photography or story-value is concerned; and gives us the opportunity of seeing the work of many of our stars who have changed completely, tor example, Deanna Durbin. The months since the beginning of war have only brought reinforcement of this policy, and have proved more than ever the ability of the repertory cinema to reflect the temper of the people. It can provide "escapism" if the people want it; it can provide "strong meat" too; in fact, whatever the public wants from the past productsof the film world can be provided almost immediately, and surely this is of paramount importance in these days of quickly changing moods. (The article on London s reception of the Continental Talking Film is unavoidably held over. It is hoped to publish it next month.) DOCUMENTARY BOOKINGS FOR JULY ( l^he following bookings for July are selected from a list covering its members supplied by the News and Specialised Theatres Association.) African Skyways Tatler Theatre. Foregate Street, Chester I .^th Taller News Theatre, Oxford Street, Manchester 27th The Newe House, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle 1 3th Ancient Roman Monuments The Newe House, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle 6lh Animals on Guard The News House, Nottingham 27th Backyard Front News Theatre, City Road, Leeds 27th Behind the Guns World's News Theatre, London 1st Birth of the Year The News Theatre, Nottingham 1 1th Victoria Station News Theatre, London 22nd Fitness Wins (2) Tatler News Theatre, Oxford Street, Manchester 6th News Theatre, City Road, Leeds 6th Fitness Wins (3) Tatler News Theatre, Oxford Street, Manchester 20th News Theatre, City Road, Leeds 20th Isles of the West Cosmo, Glasgow 20th Karoo World's News Theatre, London 8th Classic, Southampton llth London The Newe House, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle 27th March of Time No. 2 (Sixth Year) Eros, Piccadilly, London 1st Waterloo Station News Theatre, London 1st Victoria Station News Theatre, London 1st Classic, Baker Street, London 1 Ith March of Time No. 12 (Fifth Year) World's News Theatre, London 18th Classic, South Croydon 1 1th Classic, Southampton 14th March of Time No. 13 (Fifth Year) Cosmo, Glasgow 25th Classic, Baker Street, London 6th News Cinema, Aberdeen 1 3th March of Time: Canada at War News House, Nottingham 6th March of Time: Dixie 1940 News House, Nottingham 20th March of Time No. 16 Premier News Theatre, Bournemouth 22nd Mechanix Illustrated No. 8 Tatler News Reel Cinema, Newcastle 20th Non-Ouassi World's News Theatre, London 25th Classic, Baker Street, London 14th Old Blue Eros News Theatre, Piccadilly, London 18th Our Fighting Navy World's News Theatre, London Victoria Station News Theatre, London Classic, South Croydon Playtime at the Zoo Cosmo, Glasgow Picturesque Udaipur Tatler Theatre, Foregate Street, Chester Pond Life The Newe House, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle Point of View No. 5 Cosmo, Glasgow Tatler, Liverpool Point of View No. 6 News Cinema, Aberdeen Premier News Theatre, Bournemouth Tatler News Theatre, Liverpool Point of View — Odds or Evens News House, Nottingham Ring of Steel Classic, Southampton Safety First The Newe House, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle Sport at the Local Tatler Theatre, Liverpool Waterloo Station News Theatre, London Classic, Baker Street, London Squadron 992 News Theatre, City Road, Leeds News Cinema, Aberdeen Tatler News Theatre, Oxford Street, Manchester Cosmo, Glasgow Tatler News Reel Cinema, Newcastle World's News Theatre, London Waterloo Station News Theatre, London Sydney Eastbound Premier News Theatre, Bournemouth The City The Newe House, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle The Democratic Way News Theatre, City Road, Leeds The Lion has Wings Classic, South Croydon The Ruins of Palmyra Tatler Theatre, Foregate Street, Chester The Newe House, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle Tatler News Reel Cinema, Newcastle The Scilly Isles The Newe House, Pilgrim Street. Newcastle Unconquerable Minesweepers Premier News Theatre, Bournemouth Tatler Theatre, Liverpool Voice of the Vintage The Newe House, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle Women in Uniform World's News Theatre, London Victoria Station News Theatre, London Waterloo Station News Theatre, London 4th 18th 14th 6th 20th 27th 29th 1st 6th 8th 15th 13th 7th 20th 29th 29th 18th 1 3th 13th 6th 13th 20th llth 25th 15th 27th 13th 18th 27th 20th 20th 27th 15th 22nd 6th 15th 29lh 22nd