The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

Page 270 The Educational Screen CuxxEnt ^iLm c^tV^oji Scenes from Castle war films: (Top) "Axis Smashed in Africa." (Bottom) "Victory in Sicily." ■ Castle Films, Inc., 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City, cover the story of recent stirring events in the great Allied offensive, in their two latest news releases in 16mm sound and silent edi- tions, entitled: Axis Smashed in Africa —depicting the sudden collapse of the enemy in Tunisia and the Allied strategy which brought it about. As the Nazi General Von Arnim concentrated his forces for an expected attack by the British Eighth Army in the South, Eisenhower secretly shifted several divisions of American and British troops to the North, and took Bizerte. The Eighth Army then struck its delayed blow from the South, capturing Tunis and a quarter of a million prisoners, in- cluding General Von Arnim. Victory in Sicily and Bombs Rock Italy —on the same reel— is an amaz- ing camera record of the first bold Allied thrust against the Fortress of Europe. The greatest armada that ever sailed is seen as Yanks, British and Canadians storm the beaches of Sicily under cover of terrific naval and air bombardment. The last half of the film shows the devasting effect of concentrated air attack upon Italian supply and transportation centers, par- ticularly the knockout blow given the railroad yards at Rome. Aerial views reveal that the bombs fell with perfect accuracy upon strictly military ob- jectives. A new series of films for home movie fans which Castle also recom- mends for education programs to pro- vide entertainment relief, is a set of ■ Bray Pictures Corporation, 729 Seventh Ave., New York City, has re- leased six new pre-flight training films in 16mm sound, one reel each. Photo- graphed from scripts prepared by Dr. .Arthur S. Otis, Co-author of the Pope- Otis textbook, "Elements of Aeronautics," the subject matter of these films is espe- cially designed to fit the aviation courses now being taught in the nation's secondary schools. The contents of the six subjects are indicated by the titles: Aircraft and How They Fly Motions of a Plane. Flying the Turn Starting— Taxiing —Taking Off Landing Advanced Maneuvers Dr. Otis, an instructor of teachers of aeronautics, explains the purpose and content of these films by saying: "They furnish the basic information about all the important phases of the art of flying which require motion for their proper understanding; they con- sist of approximately 5% technical ani- mation, 35% of photography of the motions of model planes, and about 60% of photography of aeroplanes in motion." Mr. J. R. Bray, President of Bray Pictures Corporation, personally su- pervised the production of these pic- tures. Mr. Bray produced last year a series of films on aviation in collabora- tion with the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, including "Youth Takes To Wings." Mr. Bray says that the new Bray- Otis group of films provides the an- swers to the most important questions in learning to fly. They demonstrate clearly, and in detailed close-up, every movement the plane and pilot need to make from the take-off for a short flight, to the landing. Spins, loops, and stalls are carefully demonstrated, because mastery of such plane move- ments is essential to safety in flight. eight cartoon comedies featuring the popular animal character: Kiko, the Kangaroo —created by the celebrated Terrytoon Studios. Four of these cartoons are now ready. They are "The Big Fight," "Cleaned Out," "The Foxy Fox" and "Hail the King." Kiko and the Foxy Fox ■ Walter O. Gutlohn, Inc., 25 West 45th St., New York City, has just re- leased in 16mm sound film, three features presenting Scattergood Baines, the well- known character of fiction and radio, created by Clarence Budington Kelland. Titles are: Scattergood Baines Scattergood Pulls the Strings Scattergood Meets Broadway The genial and resourceful small town philosopher is portrayed by Guy Kibbee. ■ Brandon Films, Inc., 1600 Broad- way, New York City, has instituted a special consultation service designed to aid civilian and military study of foreign areas. Mrs. Anne Schutzer has been ap- pointed to head the new service which will issue special comprehensive lists of Films For Foreign Area Study. Lists on Italy, Germany, France, Russia, and Czechoslovakia will be ready for servicing this month. It was also announced that Brandon Films, Inc., had acquired the distribu- tion rights to a series of five health films produced by Finer Films Co: Vim, Vigor and Vitamins —a drama- tic presentation of the nature of a com- plete diet; the function of vitamins and their richest sources. Small Pox: The Ever-Present Men- ace —proves the necessity of vaccina- tion and revaccination as the only sure preventative of Smallpox. In Every Day —a study of proper health habits by presenting a typical day in the life of a model American boy. s The Value of a Smile —a human in- terest study of mouth health, including the need for straightening teeth, foods for strong teeth, and proper methods of brushing teeth. The Smiles Have It —an elementary motivation study for developing chil- dren's interest in proper care of the teeth and gums. ■ Atlas Educational Film Co., Oak Park, 111., has completed production on a new high school Victory Corps film presented by the American Dental Asso- ciation as a contribution to the U. S. Bureau of Education Physical Fitness Program: Student Flyer — 1 reel, 16mm sound—• dramatizing the importance of dental health both for service in the Armed Forces and as civilian war workers. Utilizing the popular Hollywood tech- nique of Narrator-.Actor-Flashback, the story opens with a dramatic high-spot in the life of a boy keenly desirous of becoming a flyer. Woven into the plot is practical advice on the care of the teeth. While the emphasis is on fly- (Continued on page 272)