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A FILM REVIEW
FOCUS :
ORGAN OF THE CATHOLIC FILM INSTITUTE
Vol. II DECEMBER 1949 No. 12
Christmas anb the Cinema
“ A ND behold an angel of the Lord stood by them and the brightness of God shone round about them . . . and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying: Glory be to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of goodwill.”
In the light of these words, it is not pushing things too far to suggest that the feast of Christmas, which is the feast of spiritual light and sound, should have a special significance for those who endeavour to use the medium of the light and sound of the cinema, to focus attention on Christian thought, art and culture.
During such festive days as Christmas we realise that the Church is a spiritual theatre, in which all the year round, The Holy Spirit: The Divine Artist, is presenting to the world, soulshaking and soul-awakening dramas. At this season the Church presents the mighty spectacle of The Incarnation and those who fail to be moved by it, are in a bad way.
Art is a hand-maid of religion and the theatre and the cinema can be her good servants. What are artistes
but instruments of The Holy Spirit whose work (by appropriation as theologians call it) is to renew the face of the earth and to cleanse the human heart with the fire of Divine Love? And what are the theatre and cinema, but symbols of the Church, commissioned by Christ Our Lord, to teach all nations! And what is the purpose of art, if not to communicate Truth in a pleasing manner?
The cinema derives much of its power from the fact that it has been accepted by the man in the street and that it can teach, preach, reveal and enlighten in most attractive forms.
‘‘We see God at present ‘through a glass darkly’, but clearly enough to reflect Him truly,” writes Archbishop Roberts in the current issue of The International Review, ‘‘if we can but focus His gifts correctly. To do that is the aim of the priests and layfolk who pool their expert knowledge, in the making and appraising of films.”
General Booth said: ‘‘Why should the devil have all the best tunes?” We today may add: ‘‘And why should he have all the best films?”
Editor.
P.S. FOCUS wishes all its Friends and Relations a Very Happy Christmas