Educational screen & audio-visual guide (c1956-1971])

SIX miles oenina scratdi ana oecame a great and useful personality in a world such as ours. I'd show it as a tremendous footnote on human greatness; as a monograph on the two wonderful women who penetrated the walls of a little girl's prison and let her become a fine and wonderful woman. God was at work here. He is context, and inspiration, too, for all that was accomplished. .\mid so much littleness, let us look at bigness and greatness, and kindness, and personality-power, and patient instruction and ethical love once in a while. This, too, is stuff to feed on. That's why I'd show the film — and after you see it, you'll wonder why I did not mention a dozen more! Preachers too timid to preach on money, can at least show a film about money. Is there a better one than For Good or Evil?5 There may be, but I like this one because it shows people being made by money while they make money. What an observation! How true! And that's the locus of Christian concern. Making money is not sinful, but to let money make you is, especially if it hardens the arteries of social concern. In this film one wants security, another wants a good time, another wants power, and Doc Spenser just wastes his money. But the pastor knew what money could do for and to people. That's why he said that it should be used for the glory of God — and after bouncing off the dead-ends of their selfish little alleys, the people of the film find out what he meant. Another film I would show adults is The Choice,6 a film that in 15 minutes gets the question of social drinking right into the mental laps of parents. This film will help a lot of parents see themselves as they are and not as they think they appear. A daughter did not like her double-standard home. She is pretty sassy, if not unkind; but her parents know full well what she is talking about, and as the film ends they are holding their alcoholized heads and hoping to make the right decision when their brains have cleared up. What should they do? That's the point to emphasize when showing it to groups of adults — classes, supper groups, study groups, clubs and such. Rightly promoted, there are communities where people would come out on a Sunday evening for a film-motivated hassel on this subject. I could preach with such a film as The Rich Fool.'' Here is a 20th-century DON'T WAIT TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF YOUR MOVIE FILM VACUUMATE! Coronet National Film Board of Canada S. V. E. McGraw-Hill Young America All give at no extra coat to you The Famous V4CyOI04K FILM PROTECTIVE PROCESS SU^Ir VAP O RATE PROTECTS AGAINST Scratches. Fingermarks, Oil, Water and Climatic Changes ONE TREATMENT LASTS THE LIFE OF THE FILM Brittle Film Rejuvenated Look for Vacuumatc on the Leader! The Vacuumatc Process Is Available to You in Key Cities Throughout the U.S. Write for Information Now Vacuumatc Corp.» 446 W. 43n! St., N. Y. IIKJL u\. K.a.*^ti sCathedral Films, 140 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, Calif. SFamily Films, 1364 N. Van Ness Ave., Hollywood 28, Calif. ^Family Films, 1304 X. Van Ness .\ve., HoIIvwood 28, Calif. setting of the ancient parable. As a man's goods grow his soul shrivels. As a man gives his all to build a great inheritance for his son, father and son relations evaporate. His factory is precious to him but his family call it "the monster." At last, and just in time, this father, a rich and foolish man, comes to himself. That's where the film leaves him. Sitting there contemplating the long road back, and up, to real manhood (and we are led to believe that his family and church will help him make the journey). Most Americans gamble a little. That's how the syndicates reap a golden harvest of small change and fatten each year on gullibility tinctured with greed. I would use On the Right Side* to motivate discussion of gambling. I think I would use tlie promotion angle involved in the question, "What should we teach our youth about gambling?" That's oblique to adult rationalization on the subject, and will not rub their emotional fur the wrong way — at least before you get them out to the meeting. Many church people have never really thought about gambling and its relation to the good values of life. This film can start thinking. It's well made and will get acceptance. I plan to use A Place to live^ to raise in the minds of adults the whole problem of the aged and their needs in these times. Here is a thoughtful film on the subject of housing for older people which raises a whole syndrome of questions. Increasingly society will be giving attention to its aging members, and the church must imprepared to do its part; its part may be indirect and motivational as much as in concrete action. It's a good film for young adults, and the fellowship groups and clubs of this age group will appreciate this well-structured film. It is highly recommended to the service clubs of the community. Films for Children Primary and Junior children will like the little film, Boy of Mexico: Juan and His Donkey.io because they will feel and appreciate its naturalness and charm. It's "Good Samaritan" angle will be all the more effective because it is not belabored. Juan, who is helping his father gather firewood, is eager to help a motorist who runs out of gas. Simple, warm, and lovely, it will speak much to children (and any adults who happen to be looking over their shoulders!). Nature films for little people are not too plentiful but Wonders in a Woodland Brook' • pretty well fits the bill for me. There is satisfying close-up photography, a slow-paced commentary, and no sentimental gush about God's creatures. This gives the user a chance to say something later on that makes sense in the top of his own head and to the children as well. This is not a religious film, until you make it so through carefully planned use. If you want a real charmer, try the film Sugar and Spice! '2 It shows a day in the life of three-year-old twins in India, as narrated by their grandmother. The whole family will enjoy this film. It's just the thing for those family nights, or those mission-study suppers. Its simplicity and naturalness makes it usable even with kindergarten children, and that is something. Teenage audiences, unless very carefully motivated, may consider it too babyish for them. Children of the MountainlS takes you to the Ozarks. There you see family life rather honestly portrayed, including the coming of the missionarypastor in his jeep. It is recommended for Juniors and Junior Highs, and for use in family-night programs. It can be used to awaken interest in the culture of other semi-isolated American groups and to motivate reading and study. With care Birds of Oiu Storybooks'^! SFamily Films. 1364 N. Van Ness Ave., Hollywood 28, Calif. ODynamic Films. 112 W. 89th St., New '^ork 24, N. Y. lOCoronet Films, Coronet Bldg., Chicagi 1, III. iiChurch-Craft Pictures, 3312 Lindel Blvd., St. Louis 3, Mo. i2United Church of Canada, Wesley Bldg., Toronto 2, Canada. iscarlin Films, Inc., 450 W. 56th St. New York 19, N. Y. i^Coronet Films, Coronet Bldg., Chicagc I. 111. 522 EdScreen & AVCuide — December, 1956