Focus: A Film Review (1950-1951)

264 DOCUMENTARY THE OFFERTORY Religious Documentary and Film Strip. Producer and Director: Rev. G. L. Wheeler for the Church of England Northern Provincial Film Council. Distributors: S.P.C.K. Running time : 12 minutes. Film Strip : 30 frames. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Blackburn and a number of Church of England clergy were present at the first showing of this film. Prior to the film, the Bishop of Blackburn said that the use of film for religious purposes was not a stunt on the part of a few “progressive” clergy, but the considered and often painful use of a new medium for extending the Gospel. His Lordship regretted the slow output of religious films but pointed out that the heavy expense and the lack of funds were the cause of the scarcity of religious films. His Lordship said that The Offertory cost £1,400 and that it was the first of a series of similar films which, it was hoped, would eventually complete a film account of the Holy Communion Service and kindred subjects. As a Catholic, one sympathises with and applauds the desire to use film for religious purposes. The theme of this film attempts to do for the Church of England Service what Alan Turner did for the Mass in The Sacrifice We Offer. I hope that it will not be regarded as partisan prejudice if I say that, in spite of the excellent photography and evident sincerity with which the film was undertaken, and notwithstanding the limitations imposed by the substandard medium in which Turner worked, The Offertory lacks the sense of inspiration and unity which permeated the Catholic film. This may be due to the variety of liturgical schools of practice which are brought into a short film, or possibly the sense, one had, that the film was searching for a common expression of belief in the reality of Christ’s presence under the sacramental forms. Perhaps, also, there was an amateurish feel about the direction of the film which consorted uncomfortably with the professional camera-work. V. CONTINENTAL FILMS L’INGENUE LIBERTINE (No Love Lost) Starring: Daniele Delorme, Frank Willard. Director: Jacqueline Aubry. Distributors: George Amull. Certificate : X. Category: A. Running time : 80 minutes. Though this film has been given an “X” Certificate, which means that it is considered suitable only for adults, it is evident that the censor has made some excisions. This does not mean that it is either truly adult, in the sense that it presents serious problems which only the mature could be expected to appreciate or that it is now divested of all unseemly episodes ; indeed, the very points at which cuts have been made seem to suggest a licentiousness which probably did not exist in the original. The story concerns an emotionally immature young wife who seeks from the company of other men the exotic raptures of which she imagines love to consist. She eventually discovers that love dwells at home and we are left with the presumption that henceforth her husband will provide all that is needed. The basic assumption of the story is, of course, quite false, the atmosphere of the film completely materialistic and the acting and decor sufficiently artificial to leave us to suppose that the plavers, too, found it unconvincing. V. Catholic Film Exhibition We hope that many priests and layfolk who have made practical use of the cine-camera will rally to the Conference which is being organised for them at Stratfordon-Avon during the first week of October. Father T. S. Copsey, M.A., is making all arrangements for the participants to be comfortably housed at Soli House, Stratfordon-Avon, from October 1st to October 5th. The cost will be 15s. a day inclusive. The available places are strictly limited so please make your application soon