Film and Radio Guide (Oct 1945-Jun 1946)

FILM AND RADIO GUIDE Volume XII, No. 8 38 the pi’oduction of equivalent films would be commercially possible, for our primary intention is to set practicable standards. There are stumbling blocks in various fields of instruction — difficulties in exposition or understanding — which teachers believe films would help to remedy. For example, to understand the scientific facts about the circulation of the blood requires the student to picture a complicated course of motions. Unless the student has an extraordinary imagination, the actual perception of the circulatory motion is almost indispensable. There are, similarly, many problems in geology, astronomy, and physics in which moving pictures or animated diagrams can do what words and charts fail to do. All of us who have tried to grasp the process of atomic fission which underlies the explosion of the atomic bomb want screen animation of the diagrams we have seen on the printed page. From mathematics and the physical sciences at one extreme to biology and the social sciences at the other, there is no subject in the whole curriculum of studies, at elementary, intermediate, or advanced levels which would not benefit pedagogically from the use of films integrated with other means and methods of teaching. The educational use of films is by no means limited to classroom instruction. Motion pictures can and should be used as visual aids in every process in which knowledge and information are disseminated. The war taught us how valuable they are in the training of industrial and military skills, in adult education, and informing different groups of the population about the lives and activities of their fellowmen. Thousands of 16mm projectors in war plants carried complete reports from far-flung battle fronts to workers eager to see how the tanks, planes, guns and ships which rolled from the production lines stood up under combat conditions. Other thousands of 16mm projectors carried war information to schools. Red Cross Chapters, and various civilian defense organizations. Still other thousands of 16mm projectors sent overseas by American war agencies told the story in a dozen different languages of the United Nations’ efforts. The experimental work we do in the production of instructional films for classroom use should facilitate the expansion of the educational usefulness of motion pictures in other fields. The urgent problems of our day, domestic and international, will not be solved unless education succeeds as it has never succeeded before. The effectiveness of education must be multiplied many times — to an extent and at a rate which existing educational facilities and methods cannot manage. The educational promise of motion pictures has been demonstrated at the very moment in history when the social need challenges us to make good that promise with all speed. And we shall. Reprinted from "The Motion Picture on the Threshold of a Decisive Decode," 24th Annual Report to the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (forferly Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., of which Will H. Hays was president), by Eric Johnston, President, March 25, 1946. 54 pages. This excerpt may be found on pages 3-7. 2 GREAT FEATURE MOTION PICTURES Now ready for 16mm RELEASE BALFE’S OPERETTA All the warmth of great music, the hilarious comedy of a grand team, and top flight Hollywood Production. Presents laurel and HARDY IN THE HAL ROACH PRODUCTION Me BOHEMIAN JACK LONDON’S BEST Film Daily said —"One of the best sea yarns that the screen can claim!" Jack London at his besti" "Photography at its finesti" "Masterly direction." srOR PICTURES Presents IACK LONDON'S mighty sea drama MUTINY on the ELSINORE Willi PAUL LUKAS -V... Vti. You can consistently depend upon the extensive program of major Hollywood product available to the 16mm market from ASTOR PICTURES CORP. 130 West 46th Street NEW YORK CITY 19, N.Y.