The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

Page 330 The Educational Screen From the film "Next of Kin" (A Universal release.) truth portrayed in Prelude to War —that Axis world conquests could not continue if the democratic way of the Allied powers was to survive. That one picture, literally even one still picture, is worth a thousand words is evidenced in this series of films. The recent controversy over the New York Times history quiz can find no parallel here. It cannot be said of the Orientation Series that here is a superficial course in World War history. The films make no pre- tense at being all-inclusive in scope. But they are real. Sometimes they are grim, but they are authen- tic. That the average American is somewhat lacking in his knowledge of history was revealed in the Nexv York Times quiz. Already the casual observer is hazy as to the year Germany invaded the low countries, or the story of China's resistance to Japan, or the cir- cumstances of the invasion of Poland. That soldiers and civilians know these events happened is apparent, but the far-reaching scope of the course of human events may not always be sensed by those who lack insight and vigilance. It is realistic enough to read headlines of German aggression, but to see the Nazis plunge ruthlessly through Poland, as the observer does in the second of the films, called TJie Naais Strike, is not a very pretty ])icture, but it is a film every American might well see. The third film in the group, Divide and Conquer, has as its thesis that a world cannot exist half-free and lialf-slave. half-Axis and half-democracy. It portrays the German offensive in Norway. Holland and France. The four other Orientation motion pictvires which depict the reasons as to why we fight deal with the Battle of Britain, Battle of Russia, Battle of China. and America Goes to War. This last has to do with Pearl Harbor and American reactions thereto. The average soldier or civilian will be better informed about why we are fighting to maintain a free world after seeing one or several of this Army Orientation Series, whether he has seen them at LSD or at some other army post. Films such as Desert Victory. Wake Island. Next of Kin together with Prelude to War. and others of its type, are documentary evidence which Americans may see and believe. Such motion pictures undoubtedly make them more determined; they tend to crystallize belief and concept. As General Marshall pointed out, a knowledge of these is essential. To the Training Division, Lexington Signal Depot, of which Major W. Gayle Starnes is Chief, is delegated the responsibility of utilizing training films through one of its branches, Training Services, with Captain Coleman E. Alford as officer in charge. Training films are made for the purpose of aiding to impart skill, procedures, tactics, as a part of the soldier's instruction. The Lexington Signal Depot's film library has hundreds of 16mm training films, motion pictures which constitute an in- tegral part of every day's teaching. The scope of sub- ject coverage is varied. The contents of the films are usually classified as restricted. In many instances, film industries have cooperated in production. The Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences has {Concluded on page 348) Action shots from "Desert Victory." (Produced by Film Units of the British Army and R.A.F. Released by 20th Century-Fox.)