International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1930)

— 359 — the Italian sections of this film (La Tarde, Bilbao D. 6/390). d) Scenic and Geographic. Created for the sole purpose of collecting elements of scenic beauty, this type of documenatary film is nearest to the propaganda film. The only difference lies in the purpose for which it was created and in the necessity of colorful touches', essential to the travel film. Some of these films have also an emotional artistic value, such as « The Song of London » by the Parkinson firm, illustrating varied and original aspects of the British capital (The Cinema, London D. 6/393). At the Theatre des Champs Elysees, Paris, the film. « The March of the Sun », was shown before the President of the Republic and numerous other personalities. This picture was created under the auspices of the French Colonial Union, and illustrates the great colonising work of France in Central Africa (Figaro, Parigi D. 6/401). Among films recently projected are : « The Romance of Rio Grande », describing the life of the South American haciendas, and reproducing the wild beauty of the banks of the South American rivers (The Daily Film Renter, London D. 6/376) : « La Bora », which is a film of the picturesque scenes of Greece (Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Berlin D. 6/368) ; a reel on Tunis, illustrated at Sophia by a lecture held in the premises of the Alliance Francaise by Henri Cambon, Minister of France (La Bulgarie, Sophia, D. 6/369), « The Heart of Mexico » in which David Kirkland shows the country in its true light, though the medium of its natural beauties. The plot of the film was written by Juliet Barret Rublee, an American educationalist, who also financed the production. (The Film Mercury, Hollywood D. 6/394). Films coming under the heading of documentary-scenic, are in preparation by the Fox Movietone News (The Exhibitors' Herald World, Chicago D. 6/375), on Russia and Siberia, another on Greenland, now being produced by the Danish scene director, Schneevoigt. The last mentioned picture will be a combination of a soundfilm and a talkie. The expedition, conducted by Schneevoigt, is financed by a company of Danish capitalists, who have placed at his disposal a. provisional sum of half a million crowns. The talkie scenes will be done in Germ.an, Swedish, English and French (Le Courier Cinematographique, Paris D. 6/381). e) Travel. This aspect of the film, also like the scene film, belongs to the wider sphere of geographical research and knowledge. With regard to Africa (The Film Daily, New York D. 6/319), the exploring couple Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have left for the Belgian Congo, taking with them several highly perfected apparatus for sound and color films, and a film of 70 meters, considered capable of making stereoscopic pictures. For Asia Commander Dyott has furnished the film « Tiger Hunting in India » a picture of impressive realism, made with 65 natives and no elephants, (Popular Film, Barcelona D. 6/397). The desolate ice regions where the midnight sun illuminates solitary fields with its cold rays, are again attracting seekers of impressions and unusually beautiful outlines. A Sovkino company is turning a film « Life among the Ice » at Murmansk, with the cooperation of the most moted scientists and explorers of the Russian Arctic regions (Kino, Leningrad D. 6/357). A series of films already announced or produced, although belonging to the travel document category, is in reality closely related to the study of history of art. Among them is that illustrating the raising of the Roman galleys of Tiberius from Lake Nemi, made by the Istituto Luce and shown at the Institut des Savants, Paris L'ltalie, Paris D. 6/378), and that shown at the first Deulig week at Berlin, (Ufafeuileton, Berlin D. 6/379), of the colossal pyramids near Tenayco, dating from the Aztec period and brought to light by the Mexican Government. f) Scientific Films. This is the type of film that most interests students, on account of its infinite variety and the possibilities it offers for investigation and study. By means of accelerated or retarded takings, color, sound and stereoscopic technical inventions, permitting of daily increasing perfectionment, the documentary scientific film represents the most reliable research aid for scientists, and the most valuable element for the instruction and popularisation of natural phenomena.