Documentary News Letter (1940)

DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER NOVEMBER 1940 FILM SOCIETY NEWS FILM SCHOOL The Workers Film Association is to be congratulated on its enterprise in running a weekend film school at St. Albans during a blitzOctober. The School was organised in conjunction with the Association of Cine-Technicians, and the announced programme was as follows : — '"The Use and Purpose of the 16 mm. film by democratic bodies'' — its scope among Trade Unions, Labour and Co-operative organisations in child and adult education — the means of entertainment and historical record — how to select and arrange a programme of films — preparing a balanced programme — advertising — the selection of hall — police regulations — presentation, including correct spooling and gramophone accompaniments. Lecturer : alderman Joseph reeves, Hon. Secretary and Manager, W.F.A. Chairman : p. noel baker, m.p. FILM display, Voice of the People and People with a Purpose. "The Film and Technical Education.'' The lecturer gave particulars of films available and shewed how they can be used in a pre-arranged sequence. Lecturer: Oliver bell, Secretary of the British Film Institute. Chairman: w. h. green, m.p. "'Films and Propaganda." The place of films in the propaganda of the Trade Union, Labour and Co-operative Movements. Should films be used for political propaganda? How the British Board of Film Censors operates. Censorship and the 16 mm. film. Lecturer: george h. elvin. Secretary of the Association of Cine Technicians. Chairman: ellen Wilkinson, m,p. Mr Elvin's speech included the following points : There is a misguided impression amongst large sections of the film trade that the public will not tolerate propaganda on the screen. I don't believe it, any more than that the public would boycott propaganda literature and drama. Today we are finding that propaganda films are box office winners and for the rest of the war, whether we like it or not, we are going to have politics and propaganda on the screen. The Nazis appear to realise the importance of films and have film vans travelling to the remotest villages of the Reich. The Ministry of Information too is struggling hard to realise it, but there is one important difference between showing films in Germany and in this country. Germany can force the population to see them. We have to show such films as will attract the public. That is, however, a sign of strength and not of weakness. It will make for better films. In the same way as the Trade Union, Labour and Co-operative Movements have their own press, and in many countries their own wireless, theatre and drama groups, so they should also have their own cinema. Their purpose should mainly be to work in the sub-standard field where they can operate in and through their own members. But they should not overlook the commercial cinemas. If any section of the population has a story to tell, it is the working-class movement.. If neither the Government nor the commercial cinema will produce such films, then the Trade Unions should. The British Board of Film Censors, as is instanced by its action, has no rational basis and is dictated largely by outworn social class and political conventions. On the sub-standard side, there is no censorship other than the voluntary wartime security censorship. There has until recently been a growing agitation for the regulation and control over the exhibition of such films. The report of last year's Home Office inquiry came down heavily on the side of the sub-standard users and was a snub for the British Board of Film Censors, who were strongly in favour of their censorship control being extended to substandard films. If the film is to continue to progress, we must do away with the constant restriction imposed by people most concerned with holding to the social, political and moral ideals of their grandparents. The elimination of every controversial subject will deprive the cinema of playing any useful part in the life of the nation. The power, the creative ability and not least, the box-oflRce pull of members of the Labour, Trade Union and Cooperative Movements, can ensure that the cinema is not a drug but a stimulant in the life of the people. Film Show of 16 mm. Films. Included in the films shown were : — (1) Advance Democracy (made for the five London Co-operative Societies). (2) The Builders (made by the Workers Film Association for the Amalgamated Society of Building Trade Workers). (3) Millions of Us (a Trade Union propaganda film made by Hollywood film trade unionists). (4) Behind the Guns (one of the recent Ministry of Information films). (5) Story of a New Oil (a short scientific film). The Function of the Standard and subStandard Film." Lecturer: thorold Dickinson (film director of The Arsenal Stadium Mystery and Gaslight, who made films in Spain during the Civil War and is now making films for the Ministry of Information) lectured on some of these experiences and the general function of films in wartime as envisaged by a leading film technician and film trade unionist. Chairman : t. o'brien. Secretary, National Association Theatrical and Cine Employees. NEWS FROM THE SOCIETIES Dundee and St. Andrews opened their autumn season on October 13th with a programme which included Joris Ivens' The 400,000,000 Alex Shaw's Men of Africa, and the French feature film Le Roi S' Amuse. The second performance of the season had as feature Fredlos. This Society send the gratifying news that their membership for the season is already nearly 600 (a record for the Society) and is still rising. So much for the cultural blackout! It is now reported that Aberdeen plans to give their normal season of at least six performances. Belfast plans to open its season this month in spite of many difficulties, including lack of a cinema, transport delays and increased costs. The subscription has been raised by sixpence. Among films which it is hoped to show are Quai des Brumes, Les Neuf Celibataires, Hotel du Nord, Five Faces of Malaya, Dark Rapture, and Death Day. The Edinburgh Film Guild announces: — "In this second year of war, when the peoples of the world are being increasingly separated from each other, the need for the Guild's performances is even more important. It has therefore been decided to arrange a half season of five shows before Christmas, and if circumstances permit a second half-season will be arranged after Christmas. "Despite the difficulty of getting new publications from the Continent, there are still sufficient foreign films in this country to maintain the international character of the programme. Indeed, it is hoped to go a step further, and arrange several entire programmes each devoted solely to the work of one country." Shows will be held in the Caley Picture House, Lothian Road, on Nov. 3, Nov. 17, Dec. 1, and Dec. 15. They will commence at 2.15, and are planned to finish before dark. The first programme on October 20th had Reniontons les Champs Elysees as feature. On November 3rd a programme of American films is being given, probably with Kanin's A Man to Remember as the main feature. Other films to be shown at later sessions include La Fetmne du Boulanger, La Marseillaise (an especially good Film Society choice). Fall of a Tyrant, and Dood fVasser. The Guild is also arranging a special showing of the prize-winning films of the Scottish Amateur Film Festival.