The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

Page 316 The Educational Screen (2wizs.nt ^LLm <:J\fs.(xr± ■ Walter O. Gutlohn, Inc., 25 W. St., New York City, has released a timely six-reel feature film in 16mm sound on: The Story of the Vatican — de- picting the inside story of the smallest sovereign state in the world. This film is the first complete motion picture of the Vatican and was filmed by the March of Time with the permis- sion and full authorization of the Vatican officials. Revealed are many places within the Vatican where visi- tors are excluded. The great archi- tectural and artistic treasures are shown, and the governmental busi- ness activities of the Papal State. Emphasizing the fact that the Vatican, though only one-sixth of a mile in ex- tent, is nevertheless a complete state. March of Time shows in turn, the tiny railroad, shortest in the world, the post- office, stores, the unique "bar," the cur- rency, the fire department, power plant, workshops, gardens, maintenance crews, caretakers and the picked men who com- prise the Papal Gendarmes and the Swiss Guard of heroic tradition. The story of the Vatican would not be complete without some reference to its art treasures. The film not only presents some of the greatest of the world's masterpieces which the Vatican contains, but illustrates, as well, the ingenious skills and techniques developed for their preservation through the ages. In addition to these revelations The March of Time brings to the screen a vivid, enthralling series of intimate studies of His Holiness Pope Pius XII. Opening with the origins of the Holy See, the film shows how Cardinal Pacelli was crowned Pope to face a world torn by war and oppression. This challenge he meets by embarking upon an unremitting campaign for peace that is to utilize every resource, medieval and modern, at his command. Thus the Vatican radio and daily newspapers are seen to draw for reference upon a li- brary whose seven miles of shelved volumes include some of the oldest Latin manuscripts extant. The film touches upon the various ecclesiastical groups dedicated to ritual and tradition. Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen's enlightening commentary interprets visits to the Academy of Science, the North American College, and the seats of the Jesuit and Dominican orders. A series of vivid studies of the Pope addressing his advisory body on peace brings the film to a close. ■ Films Incorporated. 330 W. 42nd St., New York City have issued a new and attractively illustrated School List of Feature Films and Short Subjects, which is the most comprehensive they have yet compiled, being twice as big as last year's edition. Printed in four colors, its si.xty- four pages list a large variety of majm studio 16mm films, both features and shorts, specifically selected for their edu- cational content, and available to all types of schools at rental rates based on actual enrollment. The films range from Bob Benchley comedies to the histori- cally significant "Union Pacific'' and "Wake Island." The short subjects are grouped under government, economics and history; art and music; biology and science; documentary and physical geo- graphy ; health and sports ; cartoons ; mis- cellaneous. Study Guides, prepared with the as- sistance of eminent authorities, are avail- able for almost all School List films. Highlights from the 16-page Study Guide on "The Buccaneer" are reproduced in the catalog, as well as the enthusiastic comments of educators who are using feature films for auditorium showings and curriculum correlation. ■ Allis-Chalmkrs Manufacturing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is distributing a film designed to speed up pre-training of student engineers, operators ,and maintenance men, produced for them by The Jam Handy Organization of Detroit, and entitled: The Magic of Steam —18 minutes run- ning time, 16mm sound. The picture re- veals and explains the construction and principles of operation of the modern steam turbine, employing the tea-kettle spout and paddle-wheel for illustrations. Animated cross-section drawings demon- strate how this principle is used to power industry and ships. Applications for the free loan of this film should be made to the Public Re- lations Department of Allis-Chalmers. ■ Bell & Howell Company. 1801 Larchmont Ave., Chicago, have added the following Universal feature film to their Filmsound Library: Saboteur — 1 1 reels—produced by Alfred Hitchcock, and starring Priscilla Lane and Steam from the spout of a tea-kettle causing a pinwheel to revolve is used to illustrate impulse force as it occurs within a turbine — from "The Magic of Steam." A scene from "Saboteur" Robert Cummings. It is a timely story of wartime America, dramatized in one man's conflict with enemy agents. The hero, a young aircraft factory worker, falsely accused of sabotage, tracks down the real saboteurs. Hell Below Zero — 1 reel—is another late Bell & Howell acquisition. A blind- ing snowstorm in equatorial ."Mrica is one of the thrills in this film, narrated and photographed by Carveth Wells, world famed lecturer. ■ Castle Films. Inc., 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City, have compiled another reel on the history of the war, with the title: Italy Surrenders —presenting on-the- .spot scenes of the biggest event of the war. The film dramatically portrays the tremendous aerial blows struck at the enemy's rail lines and air fields, inva- sion fleets inMessina Straits, Montgom- ery's veteran Eighth Army swarming into the Calabrian area, occupation of the boot of Italy by General Mark Clark's .Ameri- can forces, and the heart-felt welcome given by Italian crowds to the invaders, treated as deliverers rather than as enemies. The pictured might of allied naval craft hammering shore positions with devastating salvos tells whv Italv fell. ■ United States Steel Corporation. 436 Seventh Ave., Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- vania, tells the complete story of its wartime expansion program and pro- duction accomplishments through a film entitled: To Each Other —featuring the actor, Walter Brennan as a veteran steelmaker who has returned to his job for the duration, while his son serves in the nation's armed forces. Deriving its title and theme from the concluding pledge of the Declaration of Independence. "We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor," the picture describes the war production ef- forts of the Corporation's employees, and the new construction program being car- ried on by the government and U. S. Steel {Concluded on page 319)