Film and Radio Guide (Oct 1945-Jun 1946)

APRIL, 1946 FILM AND RADIO GUIDE 25 yet devised to make pictures which will help work out a real solution. 6. The field of democracy and citizenship offers another important area for the production of Protestant films. During the war, it was discovered that many men in the armed forces lacked a real understanding of the American ideal, and were confused regarding the democracy and freedom for which they fought. To combat this state of mind, both the Army and the Navy instituted programs of orientation and information, including not only material regarding the origins and progress of the war, but education in citizenship and in the basic concepts of American democracy. Other political philosophies have used and are still using the most potent propaganda weapons at their command to instill allegiance to their cause. If we believe in American democracy, and if we believe that democracy is better in essence than avu totalitarian philosophy, it is up to us to preserve this democracy by instilling loyalty to its ideals and training ourselves for its use. We must carry on the work in this field which was begun by the armed services under the stress of war. Here, as in all other crucial areas, we must have films, I do not mean films which stress the point of view of any political party. I am talking about films on the basic principles of democracy, without which there would be no parties, or elections, freedom of religion, or freedom of speech. To stimulate a greater understanding and appreciation of democracy is one of the aims of the Protestant churches. The Christian theory of the worth of the human personality is basic to the democratic theory of the dignity of the individual and of his responsibilities and rights. Therefore it is highly appropriate that the churches engage in the production of films which will help preserve the American democratic ideal, which is essentially a Christian concept. No matter how well-intentioned, few other agencies can undertake the production of films in this area without calling forth charges of propaganda. And yet this kind of indoctrination in democracy is vital if we do not want to replace our American democracy by the totalitarian way of life. Here again the churches must lead the way. 7. Obviously, world peace is a subject with which the churches are vitally concerned. Here, too, is an area for films. Here the problem is made even more urgent by the advent of the atomic bomb. Now, as never before, we must have peace if the world is to survive. Yet it is doubtful if fear of the horrors of war, or even of complete extinction, is sufficient to keep the world at peace, as long as the prime factors in human behavior are selfishness and greed. Here again it is the function of the churches to attack the problem at the roots. We must not just talk about brotherhood — we must “sell” it. We must not just talk about unselfishness, we must promote it as a practical attitude for our lives. We must instill in all people a sense of mutual interdependence. We must instill an understanding of other peoples and an appreciation, not hatred, of their differences. We must instill a sense of the basic similarities of all peoples, so strong and so convincing that we will all really grasp the concept that we are one people and one world. And here, too, films produced by the Protestant Film Commission can play a compelling and decisive role. Obviously, the most effective kind of attitude-forming can be done with young people and with children. An extremely important part of the work of the Protestant Film Commission will be the production of films especiallj^ designed for showing in church schools. These films will be concerned with instilling Christian attitudes on many of the subjects we have mentioned above. These are some of the high lights of the plans of the Protestant Film Commission for films which we will produce. Most of these are attitude-forming films, all of them designed for one ultimate goal — the betterment of the human race, and the building of the Kingdom of God, not at some future time in another world — but on earth, here, and now. In addition to conducting a non-theatrical production program, the Protestant Film Commission is vitally concerned with the role of the Hollywood entertainment films in influencing attitudes and behavior. It cannot truthfully be said that any Hollywood film is purely entertainment. The entertainment film has a tremendous effect upon manners and morals, fashions and standards of living. Whether producers intend it or not, very often entertainment films also have an effect upon our basic attitudes, prejudices, and fears. We do not ask that Hollywood producers make their entertainment films more innocuous. Neither do we ask that they make them less scintillating, dramatic, or entertaining. We do ask that the producers take responsibility for the unavoidable effect of these pictures on people’s lives.