The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

especial artistic values — while listening to a sermon. Do we need further experimental evidence to establish the fact that still' pictures constitute extremely poor subject matter for the motion picture camera? Can 30 or 40 still pictures be manipulated by a producer in such a way as to constitute a satisfactory visual basis for a film which is to last 20 minutes — or any length, for that matter? Does not the essence of cinema reside in the power of the motion picture to bring 24 pictures before the mind in the short interval of one second? Such short-cuts to film-making can have but one end — a poor film. As a sermon, the sermon of this film would be impressive. As a film-sermon it gets only a part of the attention of the audience since the pictures, because they are pictures, compel a certain amount of attention. Since the pictures in this film carry an insignificant amount of direct or illustrative meaning, they contribute very little to getting over the total message of the film. If superior preaching is to be taken to the people, let it be done on records, wire and tape recordings rather than on a soundtrack with still pictures running interference. The Good Samaritan is one of the most artistic uses of puppets in film-making I have seen, especially in the color version of this 10-minute film. The story is presented, not explained or applied to life. Those who want to present this great parable in a new form and in a new manner will be pleased with this little film. It moves slowly and gracefully and the children of the younger grades will be pleased with its beauty The soundtrack gives the Scripture. Preiudice Prejudice is a dramatic film study of the effects of prejudice (anti-Semitism, in this instance) on the individual holding it. This is an important aspect of the subject, but not so important as showing the personal happiness that comes from living the unprejudiced life of goodwill and brotherhood. In the film, just about everyone, except Al (the Jew), does a mediocre job of living. Even the preacher bungles a pastoral call. In golf, all but Al would be shooting the course in 120 ! Can't films ever show someone playing life's course in Now only 50c — ... a booklet of 64 pages of informafion reprinted from the Church Department. THE RELIGIOUS SCREEN by W. S. HOCKMAN, Church Dept. Editor THE RELIGIOUS SCREEN should be in every church worker's library. Send only 50c today to EDUCATIONAL SCREEN 64 E. Lake St., Chicago I, III. Questioned by the minister, Joe Hanson denies that hate literature makes any impression on him or h's wife. The scene is from the motion picture "Prejudice," produced by the Protestant Film Commission and distributed by the Religious Film Association. the middle eighties? It would be encouraging and inspiring . . . and very likely just as dramatic. The film is technically good. (See the review of the film in Educational Screen, April, 1949, page 169.) Into fhe Good Ground Produced for the Board of Christian Education of the Presbyterian Church and distributed by the Religious Film Association, Into the Good Ground is a 30-minute film that tries to make it clear that fruitful Bible study and reading are dependent upon our attitude as we approach the Bible. This type of film is needed. It should be useful throughout the youth and adult church. If the story had been a little more convincing and the central problem and solution etched a little more strongly, it would have got a better rating than "B-1" here. (Longer review will appear in a later issue.) Science or Religion? Falling somewhere between science and religion, the 10-minute color film God's Wonders in Your Own Backyard is better science than religion. The science is in the pictures — many of them excellent. The religion is in the commentary — most of it uninspired and pious without being impressively reverent. In this film a little boy and girl are photographed while discovering (under some careful direction, of course!) a worm, a snail, a spider, and a centipede in their backyard. The creative teacher in church and school may use the film — unless the commentary gets in the way — to promote an interest in living things and encourage a reverence for all life. The unimaginative and the less creative, especially in the church, will use the film because it sounds religious. For those who use films, it is recommended mildly ; for those who show films it is not recommended. Farmers of Japan Farmers of Japan is a 20-minute black-and-white film produced by the U. S. Department of Agriculture and distributed l)y Castle' Films. It shows the activities of a typical Japanese farmer as he wrests a living from his tiny rice and wheat fields by ancient methods and machines. It shows him forming small cooperatives to utilize better methods and better machines. The film is recommended as being useful with all ages in giving December, 1949 455