International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1934)

PROVIDENCE PROPAGANDA AND THRIFT 191 an association of the efforts and means of the Savings Banks within the ambit of each nation in order to produce thoroughly effective educational films. At the Second International Thrift Congress (London 1929) the problem was already ripe for concrete treatment, and with the demonstration of the encouraging experiences, the necessity was realized of coordinating efforts in the international field also, both in order to promote the exchange between country and country of the films already produced and in order to arrive at the production of new films which, with the help of the abundant resources collected at the Savings Banks of the whole world, might prove of high educational and artistic value. In fact, the Congress, by an unanimous vote of the delegates, invited : " (a) the Savings Banks and their associations to promote the production of slides and films having not only a local interest and appeal, but of such a nature as to favour the circulation and exchange between the Savings Banks of different countries ; " (b) the International Thrift Institute to be the centre of offers and demands for such slides and films, to supply a brief summary of such slides and films in its Review, and at the same time act as production centre for international films and slides relating to thrift propaganda, eventually in collaboration with the International Institute of Educational films ". How the International Thrift Institute has acquitted and is still acquitting the new tasks entrusted to it, is stated in the following pages. After 1929, the last year of the insecure prosperity, the Savings Banks found themselves faced in almost all countries with the effects of the crisis, which gradually became manifest, and which sometimes did not spare even them hard blows and grave repercussions. It is precisely in order to react against the most unhealthy and acute manifestations of the depression that the Savings Banks are eagerly undertaking individual or collective propaganda campaigns against hoarding and growing mistrust and with a view to a clear understanding of present economic and monetary events. In many countries, this campaign is developing into a vast and coordinated activity for the economic education of the people (in Germany under the title of " Aufklaerungswerbung ", in the United States under that of " Economic education of the people ") intending to give the individual greater consciousness of his function in the economic world around him and to show the close ties existing between currency, savings and the other branches of economic life. In this vast activity, which accentuates, still more the social and educational character of the Savings Banks and which is eagerly carried on both in the school and among the people, the cinematograph, in view of its great powers of attraction and conviction, is of necessity occupying the first place among the means used. The International Thrift Institute, on its part, is assisting actively in this work, by promoting the exchange of educational films, arranging adaptations of the films to be exchanged and stimulating the Savings Banks, through its publications and direct work, to a larger and more rational use of the cinematograph for the achievement of the broader aims of social education imposed by the new situation. On parallel lines with the profound transformation that has come about in cinematography, the problem of the adoption of the sound film is being brought before the attention of the Savings Banks, which are gradually being won over to the new idea. A good part of the silent films produced for our propaganda have now been sonorized or have in many cases undergone a very successful musical adaptation. 1932 saw the appearance in some countries of talking thrift films also. Further, whilst previously films were produced having general aims of education in thrift and providence, in the course of time films already specialized have been produced, each having special requisites of its own