Minutes of evidence taken before the Departmental Committee on Cinematograph Films (1936)

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70 COMMITTEE ON CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS 19 May, 1936.] [< 'nil linued. technical and creative skill which has no equal in cinema. As examples may be given : Song of Ceylon, which brought to the screen for the first time a creative interpretation of the people, crafts, industry and landscape of Ceylon with a lyrical and poetic treatment which lias attracted international attention. Night Mail, a dramatic report of the postal special from Euston to Glasgow, which has compelled immediate enthusiasm from audiences of all kinds. Shipyard, an impressionistic treatment of the building of a liner told with reference to the social and economic life of the people whose livelihood depends on ship-building. ANNEX III. Excerpts prom Newspapers and other. Sources Relating to Documentary Films. The Times. 28/11/35. " A great public has now been won for films of this kind, in which the British school is pre-eminent." (Leading Article.) Morning Post. 27/1/36. " In the film world it (documentary) describes a form of cinema, much ignored in this country, which nevertheless contains more claims to recognition and to greatness than all the super-productions of the commercial studios." The Observer. 9/2/36. " Documentary Film, the film with a social thesis and no footlights, is a vital and growing force in the cinema of to-day." (C. A. Lejeune.) Daily Telegraph. 31/1/36. " The purpose of the documentary film is to get away from the theatrical tradition, with its purely entertainment appeal, and to find in the wider fields of actuality an appeal which will be more educative, more intellectual, more aesthetic and therefore more durable." (Harold Nicholson.) Manchester Guardian. 11/2/36. " Documentary films have been made for years, but only recently has their importance been recognised. Now, owing to the work of several groups of young men dissatisfied with ordinary commercial conditions, England is producing a number of industrial, propaganda and publicity pictures which are her chief contribution to the cinema." (Robert Herring.) The Cinema. (Trade Paper.) 13/2/36. " In no field of cinema has greater progress been achieved than in that of the documentary or real life film. This process has been a dual one. for whilst the non-dramatic form has inspired the most advanced technical and directorial developments, it has also got nearer to life and contributed more to social advancement and thought than the entertainment film has done in thirty years." " Sight and Sound " — Spring, 1936. " A man or woman who does not realise what scope for intelligent effort directed towards the advancement of hu nan welfare, along non-party lines, the use of Documentary offers, belongs to the political past and has no place in the political future." (Prof. Lancelot Hogben.) Evening Standard. 29/l/36\ " Documentary . . . has won a place in cinema. It is entitled to as important a place as the essay in literature, where the novel, in popular regard, must always remain supreme. But the documentary approach will go on influencing the commercial film of entertainment and the influence will be for the good of the cinema." (Ian Coster.) 1 Film Company Grierson. Data regarding The Key t<> Scotland. Production : Stran Direction : Marion 1934. Beside the Seaside. Production : Strand Film Company Direction : Marion Grierson. 1935. Song of Ceylon. Production : Cinema Contact Ltd. Direction : Basil Wright. Distribution: Denning Films. 1935. B.B.C. the Voire of Britain. Production: G.P.O. Film Unit for Broadcasting Corporation. Direction : Stuart Legg. Distribution: A.B.F.D. 1935. Night Mail. Production : G.P.O. Filn Direction : Harry Watt. Distribution: A.B.F.D. 1936. M arclt of Time. (Series.) Distribution : Radio Pictures. 1935 and 1936. Shipyard. Production : Gaumont-British Direction : Paul Rotha. Distribution : Gaumont-British L935. The Fmi' of Uri In i a. Production : GauTnont-Brit ish Direction : Paul Rotha. Distribution : Gaumont-British L935 the British Unit. ANNEX IV. Films mentioned in the Memorandum. Industrial Britain. Production : The Empire Marketing Board. Direction : Robert Flaherty. Distribution : Gaumont-British Distributors. 1933. Contact. Production : British Instructional. Direction : Paul Rotha. Distribution : Wardour Films. 1933. Coal-Face. Production : Empo. Direction : Cavalcanti and Grierson. Distribution : A.B.F.D. 1935. The Life of a I'lant. Production: British Instructional Films. Direction: Percy Smith. Distribution: Wardour Films. 1938. Shadow on tin' Mountain. Production : Empire Marketing Hoard. Direction : Arthur Hit on . Distribution : Gaumont-British Distributors. L931. Wake up and /•'• i d. Production: Gaumont-British Instructional Ltd. Direction : J. B. ! [olmes. Distribution : Gaumont-British Distributors. lit.-!.",. Private TA.fi of th< Gan nets. Production : London Films. Direction: Dr. Julian Huxley. Distribution : United Artists. 1935. Instructional Ltd. h Distributors. [Instructional Ltd. Dis1 ributoi s.