Film and Radio Guide (Oct 1945-Jun 1946)

50 FILM AND RADIO GUIDE Volume XII, No. 8 don’t you know” mansion, she commits many indiscretions, meets an unconventional and brilliant writer (Charles Boyer), shocks everyone, and gains complete happiness in an untrammeled life. Chinn Brown is a “must” for all who wish to laugh. F. H. Law. * ★ * TOMORROW'S MEXICO. March of Time. Strongly recommended. Tourist Mexico — and the Mexico that lies beyond the average tourist — both appear in fascinating detail in Tomorrow’s Mexico, a new March of Time presentation. Restrictions brought about by the war, preventing trans-ocean travel, have turned hundreds of thousands of sight-seers “across the border” into the colorful land beyond the Rio Grande. The March of Time first shows what most of these visitors from the United States particiularly enjoy — well-paved automobile highways, great modern buildings, luxurious hotels, and night clubs that ape those at home, the mountains, the volcanos, the cathedrals, and the picturesque individuals along the highways and in the city crowds. Then the March of Time takes one into the real Mexico, to the semiarid regions where men still work with crude agricultural implements, and to places where progressive leaders have set in motion work to educate every person in all of Mexico’s population. It is a law that those who can read and write must, within each year, teach others also the rudiments of literacy. The March of Time recounts recent Mexican history and shows the leaders in bringing about modernization and industrialization of Mexico. It gives us glimpses here and there of the changes that are taking place. So far as pictures can do so, the March of Time shows the spirit of the new Mexico, or better still, “The Mexico of Tomorx’ow.” F. H. Law. WANTED — MORE HOMES. The March of Time. Recommended for all. Into a comparatively short film the March of Time has crowded a mass of interesting and pertinent information about the pi'esent housing shoi’tage in the United States. Beginning with the human interest involved in the search of a young married couple for a home, whatever it may be, the film proceeds to consideration of all sides of the housing problem. If it has any editorial purpose whatever, that purpose is to lead to immediate repeal of longstanding building laws that interfere with rapid construction. Particular interest attaches to the making of prefabricated homes. Everyone will sympathize with the pictures that show the difficulties that arise when a newly-married couple live with the parents of one or the other. This March of Time presents the views of distinguished authorities on housing. Best of all, it calls sharp attention to a national need. The March of Time’s film on housing is personal, amusing, instructive, and thought-provoking. F. H. Law. DAYS AND NIGHTS. War drama. Artkino. Directed by Alexander Stolper. Highly recommended for all. Based on a famous Russian novel, this film portrays the successful defense of Stalingrad. Picturized is “an authentic eyewitness report” which was “photographed in the laiins” of the Russian city. For these rea sons a few shots of towering, jagged wrecks of buildings appear terrifying. Very impressive in face and character are the Russian soldiers whose type is glorified — but with fine restraint — in the hero. It is a type of hero who wants to live and to enjoy love and life in a Russian city, but gladly faces death, since in its wake follows the extermination of the Nazis. Unforgettable is the scene in which a harassed mother hopes that a bomb will wipe her out with her little ones. Full of irony is a situation towards the end, when the hero, relaxing at a banquet, does not realize that a faint noise comes from the bomb which critically wounds his girl. While the film cannot offer the literary descriptions of the novel, yet on the screen may be heard the songs of the soldiers. There is a love story, but no Hollywood glamour such as we found in For Whom the Bell Tolls. In its Russian counterpart, emphasis is placed on camaraderie between generals and common soldiers, and on life in its darkest and bravest aspects. Carolyn Harrow ★ ★ ★ DISTRIBUTING AMERICA'S GOODS. The Twentieth Century Fund ond Encyclopaedia Britannica Films. 16mm sound. Recommended for all. A highly instructive film concerning basic principles in economics explains why 59 cents of every consumer dollar goes for distribution of goods. By means of action pictures, animated diagrams, and spoken words, the 10-minute film sets forward a number of important economic lessons. The Twentieth Century Fund is an endowed foundation devoted to research and to public education. A Board of Trustees se