World Film and Television Progress (1937-1938)

(People with Purposes — contd . ) FILM IN EDUCATION Devon County Council Education Committee recently adopted recommendations to purchase sound projectors and to make grants towards the purchase of equipment and the hiring of educational films by schools. Whilst the projectors would be primarily for classroom use, they might be lent at intervals to the County Agricultural Department for experimental purposes. * * * In Southampton schoolrooms are to be built with a definite view to using them for film shows, and comprehensive plans are being made by the Education Committee for the adoption of modern scientific aids to teaching. In Barnsley eight schools are equipped with projectors; last year one school showed over a hundred educational films. The King Edward VII Grammar School in Colville recently purchased talkie apparatus, and the Bradford Education Committee has made a grant of £20 for a projector to the Gregory Girls' School. In Torquay a sound projector has been installed in every assembly hall, and a silent projector in every school in Audley Park. * * * Boys belonging to the Sherwood Congregational School in Nottingham have completed a four-reel silent film My Friend Smith, financed by The Religious Film Society. 17,000 schools in Germany are equipped with apparatus for showing educational films. In Canada arrangements are being made to establish a film library for free circulation of educational pictures of the Empire among schools. * * * At a meeting of the Dundee Education Committee a letter was read from the Scottish Film Council, asking financial assistance towards the setting up of a Glasgow office, with a full-time manager, for the purpose of administering educational films in Scotland, giving advice on the formation of libraries of educational films, and assisting in the work of arranging vacation courses for teachers. At these classes teachers will be able to learn the technique of using a projector and keep in touch with latest developments. The Committee's decision was deferred until they had an indication of how other cities were treating similar requests. * * * Followers of continental films will be interested to hear of an addition to cinemas showing these films in the West End : the Berkeley Cinema, in Lansdowne Row. It is small, but probably provides the most suited accommodation to the policy of the proprietors, which is to present new films produced in countries other than England and the United States. Under the direction of Count Ostrorog, it has made a successful beginning with Der Herrscher, German Prize Film of 1936 (see Review of Reviews), and hopes to keep up the standard with productions of Sacha Guitry, Willy Forst, Gustav Froelich, and other of the recognised continental directors. Teaching by Film and Radio A League of Nations Effort The following report by Miss M. Locket is on the work of the Cinema Sub-Committee at the Conference of Committees of Intellectual Co-operation recently held in Paris. A "Month of Intellectual Co-operation" is now in progress in Paris under the aegis of the International Institute for Mutual Co-operation of the League of Nations. Of the various subject committees, the one round which centred popular interest was the advisory committee on League of Nations Teaching. This year its deliberations were concerned mainly with teaching by cinema and radio. Suggestions had been invited from various national organisations and individuals and on these each sub-committee — one devoted to cinema and the other to radio — produced recommendations for the consideration of the Intellectual Co-operation Organisation. As regards cinema, probably the most interesting of these recommendations is that designed to extend to further categories of films the exemptions from customs dues provided for in the League convention of 1933. These exemptions facilitate international circulation of films of educational character. After considering how best to induce those Governments who have not yet signed or ratified the Convention to do so — "notably those more important States whose example is so necessary to encourage other adhesions," the committee outlined these proposed categories: Films, so-called entertainment, but of high artistic and cultural standards. Films faithfully representing the spirit of the country producing them and which consequently could contribute to a better knowledge of and reciprocal esteem between peoples. Sections of newsreels of similar interest. The next recommendation dealt with: National Activities: Here the Sub-Committee suggests that though the role of the film is international, the Assembly should consider drawing the attention of Governments to certain measures calculated to develop national activities in such a way that the effect upon international activities could not but be favourable. It noted as of interest in this connection : The role of national institutes and the important effect of Governments encouraging these activities where they already exist and wherever possible supplying additional funds for their support. The creation of such institutes where they do not yet exist. The important effects to be achieved from public bodies granting to such institutes all possible facilities for improving relations with similar national film institutes. The importance of establishing closest relations between such institutes and national committees of Intellectual Co-operation. Finally the sub-committee dealt with International Activities. It is suggested that the Intellectual Institute of Educational Cinematography at Rome, together with the International Institute of Intellectual Co-operation could undertake the following tasks: To study the means of extending the categories of films benefiting from the International Convention. To assist when necessary the creation of national film institutes, and to provide them with information, especially that based on experience gained elsewhere. To assist relations between such institutes and to promote conferences of representatives. To undertake a further study of the measures recommended by the Rome Congress of 1934 and to suggest a programme of action to give effect to this. The suggestions received by the committee from various institutions and individuals, notably those of M. Jean Benoit-Levy, the British Film Institute of London, A. de Cavalcanti, M. Van Staveren of Holland, etc. were considered with much interest. Swedish Films for Colleges John Hay Whitney, President of the Museum of Modern Art Film Library, announces the arrival of a group of important motion picture films from Sweden, acquired through the courtesy of the Svensk Filmindustri. The most familiar to American audiences will probably be Gosta Berling's Saga (The story of Gosta Berling), in which Greta Garbo plays one of the principal roles. This film, directed in 1923-24 by Mauritz Stiller, stars Lars Hanson: Greta Garbo plays opposite him, and Gerda Lundequist-Dahlstrom is also featured. The film is eight reels long and has recently been synchronised with music. Students of the cinema will be interested to compare Garbo's appearance and acting in this her first important film with her later work in America. When Mauritz Stiller, one of the greatest Swedish directors, was brought to America in 1925 to direct, he insisted that Garbo be put under contract by the same motion picture company. He recognised her potentialities and watched over her career. Before Stiller died in 1928 Garbo had attained the prominence he foresaw for her. Victoi Seastrom and Mauritz Stiller were the two greatest Swedish directors. It was largely their work which gave the Swedish film international prominence in the years immediately after the War and before the German films attracted attention. Seastrom came to America to direct films in 1923 and Stiller in 1925. A series of programmes composed of the Swedish films brought over and of American films will be shown in New York next season by the Museum of Modern Art and will be circulated by the Film Library to museums, colleges and study groups throughout American and in Canada. 35