International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jul-Dec 1929)

These films are the first of a series which will certainly claim universal admiration, for it continues most worthily the worldfamed work of the famous scholar, Dr. Comandon. M. Painleve has drawn up a vast program ; he will undoubtedly carry it out for the greater honour of France and the educational cinema. * * # Lastly, let me have the pleasure of recalling the fact that the French Government on several occasions in the course of last year placed the question of the educational cinema on the agenda, for debate both in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. M. Edouard Herriot was an earnest advocate of this cause during his period of office in the Ministry of Education and Fine Arts. All his admirable speeches on the subject would bear citing ; they are both instructive and at the same time full of encouragement. Senator Brenier defended the cause of the school film in the Senate, formulating the problem in the clearest terms and rallying all his colleagues to his point of view. Deputy Antoine Borrel made a masterly report on the subject, equally well supported by evidence, which he closed by laying a Bill before the Chamber proposing the creation of a National Cinematograph Office, differing very little from that conceived by M. Brenier, which should coordinate all the cinema services attached to the several ministries, so as to do away with watertight compartments, and compile a well classified catalogue and statistics to be kept constantly up to date. According to M. Brenier 's idea, this National Office ought to be constituted as a body corporate and be financially independent. It should be attached to the Ministry of Public Education and would comprise delegates from all the interested ministries, to whom competent authorities and recognized technical experts should be added. We have every hope that this interesting project may soon be realized. The Members of the Chamber are con — 636