Plan for cinema (1936)

INTRODUCTORY § i . The rise and development of cinema is one of the outstanding social phenomena of the twentieth century. Its influence on peoples of wide and varied cultures throughout the whole of the so-called civilized world is such that he would be a rash critic indeed who would dogmatize as to its real significance. Already, amongst western nations, cinema-going is the major spare-time occupation of the young, its own little artificial world of persons and personalities, machines and makebelieve, is a topic of conversation, a matter for journalistic discussion of which the public never tire. For good or bad, cinema is an immense force ; adolescent, yet by the implicit subtlety of its nature, moulding J the opinions of millions in the course of its supposedly superficial business of merely providing entertainment. The social power of the film lies in the implicitness of its propaganda rather than in any direct political reference in theme or story. In this sense, its proselytizing capacity is under-estimated, critical barrage usually being trained on purely external influence resident in particular themes : to wit, the gangster film, the sex film, and so on. The value of an individual film or series of films whose theme and treatment are designed towards a specific result is exceedingly questionable. Explicit propaganda is a snare by which the public will