Documentary News Letter (1941)

DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER JULY 1941 TWO FILMS OF THE MONTH I WANTED WINGS— WESTERN UNION NOWADAYS REALISM is the thing. Particularly from Hollywood are coming many films set against a factual background, and the tendency to separate film characters from the economic and sociological consequences of their environments appears to be less pronounced. It is a development which the documentary film-maker obviously must welcome. For many years the "documentary movement has been singing the praises of the realistic theme for story films, and even when realism is kept strictly in the background of the story, the very idea of setting the fictional plot amongst the facts of life is a step in what documentary has always felt to be the right direction. Unfortunately the most recent developments seem to suggest that it is not quite so simple as all that. There is an increasing tendency to cash in on the growing demand for realistic films with productions which are genuinely realist neither in story nor in background. The superficial and publicised appeal is to the public appetite for fact, but these films actually consist of the old familiar improbabilities strung together in a bad imitation of the modern realistic fashion. This month's examples of this kind of film are / Wanted Wings and Western Union. I Wanted Wings is supposed to be about the American Army Air Corps and how it is being trained. In point of fact, almost no accurate information is given on this subject. The film proves to be a story of three variegated young Americans, and their spurious emotional reactions to the idea of flying plus their conventional Hollywood reactions to the idea of women. Yet this film is being ballyhooed around the town as if for the first time the public was to be given an insight into the power and methods of operation of the U.S. Air Force. It is true that in the film there are scenes of training. They run for four or five seconds each and are combined into an impressionistic montage sequence full of double exposures. It is, accordingly, impossible to see exactly what is going on. There is a sequence supposed to depict a night air raid exercise over Los Angeles. The bombers come over in the darkness wing-tip to wing-tip at an altitude which is reported by a hysterical radio commentator as 15,000 feet. Judging from the pictures themselves the altitude is not more than 1,500 feet, and the bombers are clearly visible whether illuminated by the searchlights or not. This is fortunate because it enables the public to watch every detail of the night raid from beginning to end, including the combats between fighters and bombers. It is no wonder that this sequence was greeted with roars of laughter, even by a polite premiere audience. This film does not even content itself with the claim to be an epic of the air, but undertakes the additional task of introducing, with the usual fanfares, a new star known as the Blonde Bomber. The authenticity of the film is such that when in the final sequences this young woman hides herself aboard a Flying Fortress in order to escape from the police, no one can feel the slightest surprise. Western Union is a much better film. It is, in fact, a perfectly adequate western in Technicolor with gun duels, a forest fire and a measure of comedy. Yet, from its title, and from advance publicity, one was led to believe that it proposed to present the story of the Western Union Telegraph Company. (Surely one of the most exciting film subjects that exists.) Moreover, it was directed by Fritz Lang, who may normally be counted upon for something unusual. Yet this film might just as well have been about goldmining, stock raising, or wheat farming as about telegraphy. It differs in no important particular from the traditional horse-opera and would have been acceptable as such were it not for the pretension of dealing with such an important American institution as Western Union. It is clear from a viewing of these two films that the pseudo-realistic story background represents a step backward from the type of film which tried to present a good exciting story and nothing more. It is no use wrapping up old melodramas in to-day's newspaper and pretending to serve caviare instead of fish and chips. FILM SOCIETY NEWS THE season is now virtually at an end, and news from societies trickles in only sporadically. It is gratifying to look back over the winter and to realise with what energy the societies kept going despite the difficulties of blitz weather, and transport. Our reports are that nearly all societies expect to continue next autumn. In the meantime, news of only one Summer School has so far been received, particulars of which will be found below. On account of the unqualified success of the first Workers Film School last year, many requests have been made for the School to be held annually. The Workers Film Association Limited, in association with the Association of Cine Technicians, have considered these requests and have decided to invite democratic bodies to be represented at a Second Workers Film School, to be held during the period Friday, 18th july, to MONDAY, 21st JULY, 1941, inclusivc. Owing to the good services of the Trades Union Congress, the use of Holywell Manor, Oxford, has been obtained. The school will serve two main purposes. Firstly, to give technical assistance to those who are responsible for the organisation of Film Exhibitions, and secondly, to assist those interested in the production of 16 mm. films for exhibition to working class audiences. Education Committees of Co-operative Societies, Local Labour Parties, Trade Union Branches and other democratic organisations have been invited to appoint representatives to attend the School. One big advantage of Holywell Manor is that students will be accommodated in one building for lectures, meals and residence, thus ensuring complete school life, which is so desirable. An inclusive fee of Ids. per day will include full board residence and lecture fees. Students may book for one, two or three days. The programme of the school includes an opening address by Arthur Greenwood, lectures on "Organisation of Projection Units"; "Producing a Social Film"; "Films which have influenced Public Opinion" ; "Preparing a Script" ; "Trades Unionism and the Film Technician"; "Programme Building"; and "Films for Natives". Lectures will also be given on the technical aspects of 16 mm. camerawork and projection, and there will be a number of film shows. The speakers include Walter Greenwood, Ralph Bond, George Elvin, Sydney Box, Alderman Joseph Reeves, W. Sellars and G. Ridley, M.P. At the final meeting of the Glasgow Branch of the Scottish Churches Film Guild three films were reviewed — The Prodigal Son, The Light of the World and Blind Bartimaeus. The first is a modern version of the old story and suitable for Religious work in Missions. The Light of the World is fundamentally good, although a short explanation should be given if it is shown to children over twelve years of age. Thunder and lightning effects are included in this picture. The final picture reviewed was considered satisfactory and suitable for all ages. The last two pictures are short reels. The next meeting of the Glasgow Branch of the Guild will be held in September when the reviews will be continued. Any of our Glasgow readers who are interested should communicate with the Honorary Secretary, Mr. Alex. M. Brown, 23 Struan Gardens, Cathcart, Glasgow, S.4, who will forward full particulars of the meetings and reviews when the arrangements for the coming winter are made. The secretary of the Glasgow Scientific Film Society writes : "There has been a lull during the summer months, but the production unit is meeting quite frequently, and the film on blood transfusion is almost completed. We feel sure that this film will cause quite a lot of interest amongst amateur film lovers, apart from its topical and instructive interest. "In a few weeks' time plans for the Annual General Meeting will be made. Arrangements will also be made then for the coming winter's programme, when we hope to be able to present to our members films of scientific and topical interest in the same way that was so well received last season."