World Film and Television Progress (1937-1938)

FILM SOCIETIES AND CLUBS THE ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY (Kinematograph Section): Hon. Secretary, R. Howard Cricks, F.R.P.S., 35 Russell Square. W.C.I. The Kinematograph Section has arranged for February a meeting of interest to workers in all branches of photography and kinematography. On Friday the 25th, Mr. A. E. Amor, F.R.P.S., is to give a paper on the manufacture of motionpicture film stock; Mr. Amor is a prominent member of the technical staff at the Kodak works at Harrow, and his information will therefore be first-hand and comprehensive. The meeting opens as usual at 7 p.m. with the projection of sub-standard films. Non-members may obtain admission by invitation of a member, or by ticket obtainable from the Joint Secretaries. The list of distinctions conferred by the Royal on its promiment members at the recent elections includes a number of names well known in film circles. Mr. Amor himself is among the newlyelected Fellows, while prominent among the Associates are H. M. Bond, Alfred Brown, Harold Chevalier, Leslie Rowson and J. H. D. Ridley. EDINBURGH FILM GUILD : Hon. Secretary, Douglas A. Donald, Esq., 16 Great King Street, Edinburgh, 3. In an endeavour to encourage substandard cinematography along constructive lines, the Guild, in co-operation with the Educational Film Association of Scotland, the Waverley Amateur Cine Society of Edinburgh, the Scottish Churches Film Guild and the Edinburgh Photographic Society, is organising an Amateur Film Festival to be held next November when prizes will be offered for films in four classes : (a) A film of Edinburgh. (b) Documentary, including industrial, civic and social services, publicity, travel, information and general interest. (c) A colour film. (d) Films for Church purposes including welfare, missionary or Biblical subjects. While the entries in the classes (b), (c), and (d) are open only to residents in the Lothians, Peeblesshire and Edinburgh the film of Edinburgh is open to anyone and this Festival should provide a fine opportunity for amateurs all over the country, who may be visiting Edinburgh this summer, to turn their cameras on the town and see their films accorded the dignity of public showing in the Edinburgh Film Festival, with a chance of winning a trophy and prize. MANCHESTER AND SALFORD FILM SOCIETY: Hon. Secretary, R. Cordwell, Esq., 13 Milwain Drive, Heaton Chapel, Stockport. On December 19th the following films were shown to the Society : Den Haag, La Belle an Bois Dormant, Modern Orphans of the Storm, and We from Kronstadt. A retiring collection on behalf of the National Joint Council for Spanish Relief realised £18 10s. On January 18th Mr. Stuart Legg spoke on "The Future of British Films", at a meeting arranged jointly with the Manchester and District Film Institute Society. On January 20th, at the Rivoli Cinema, the programme included Children at School, Soap Bubbles and Musik im Blut. 48 • On February 20th the feature will be La Kermesse Hero'ique. Other shows will take place on March 20th and April 10th. WEST ESSEX FILM SOCIETY: Hon. Secretary, L. G. Watson, Esq., 10 Meadway, Buckhurst Hill. Studio : 41a Kempton Road, East Ham, E.6. At recent technical meetings addresses have been given on the subjects of Set Construction and Make-up. Power Without Glory, a film made by the Chairman, Mr. A. L. Watson, was projected at a recent meeting, and further progress has been made in the shooting of Mr. S. Reed's film, Pot of Basil. Whilst membership must necessarily be limited, there are one or two vacancies in the Society. Applications should be addressed to the Secretary. THE GUILD OF CATHOLIC TEACHERS' FILM SOCIETY: Hon. Secretary, Margaret M. Kerr, M.A., 53 Drumby Crescent, Clarkston, Glasgow. At the last meeting on December 9th, the discussion on "Censorship" was continued, and plans are gradually taking form for the classification of general films, according to their suitability for children. It is intended that, with this classification, teachers of the Guild will be in a position to guide children and advise their parents in the matter of choosing programmes which will have a good influence on the minds of the young. The need for such selection is very evident when one views the number of children who visit the cinema, and the titles of some of the programmes which are presented. At a meeting held on January 20th three Kodachrome films were shown in addition to the usual programme. These depict native life and missionary work in Africa, and have come direct to the Society from Uganda, where they were taken by a friend. AV ANTE-GARDE LECTURES Among the February lectures at the Reimann School and Studios, 4-10 Regency Street, London, S.W.I., is "Film MakingSingle-handed", by Alex Strasser, F.R.P.S., to be given at 8 p.m. on February 11th. Mr. Strasser, expert in documentary filmmaking and author of several film books, will discuss the work of the "avant-garde", and the possibilities of amateur film-work. Several films will be shown during the lecture. Admission Is. 6d. (students \s.). * * * On January 30th Jean Langlois, founder and organiser of the Cinematheque Francaise, lectured at the Forum Cinema on the development of the film. The lecture was in French, with an English summary given at intervals. Mr. Langlois maintained that contemporary cinematic valuation and criticism is distorted by social and economic atmosphere, and that the emphasis of a film shifts with the changing reactions of new audiences. Most film successes are lucky breaks. Caligari, shot with no great aim in view, became a classic. Only the works of Melies, Griffith and Chaplin are faultless. The talk was illustrated by reels from films by The German Expressionists, Pabst, Pina Menchelli, Sjostrom, Stiller, Griffith, Melies, Wiene, Clair, Murnau and Vigo. OXFORD FILM SOCIETY: Hon. Secretary, E. F. Bowtell, Esq., 105 Victoria Road, Oxford. The following are the details of the Society's Hilary term meetings: Sunday, February 6th, The New Gulliver, supported by N. or N.W. (Len Lye) and an early Chaplin comedy. Sunday, February 20th, the famous Greek legend Amphitryon and Underground Farmers. NAT. TRUST COMPETITION The attention of the Amateurs is drawn to a change in the closing date of the National Trust Film Competition announced in the December W.F.N. The closing date is now October 1st, 1938. For those who did not see the early announcement we are repeating the competition rules. No two prizes in respect of films of the same property or group of properties will be awarded, and the Trust reserves to itself the copyright of any winning exhibit. The films should run for not less than 10 minutes, and coloured films are eligible to compete. Preference will be given to films dealing with several rather than with one property. The films must be on 16 mm films. The prizes will be : — 1st £20 2nd £15 3rd £5 The closing date is October 1st, 1938. The prize-winning films will be used in connection with lectures, etc., to further the work of the National Trust, and will be titled as having won a prize in the National Trust Competition 1938 with the name of the winner. Originals shall become the absolute property of the Trust, but the maker shall be entitled to copies of the film at cost price if he so wishes. For further information refer to the December W.F.N, or write to : The Competition Secretary, The National Trust, 7 Buckingham Palace Gardens, London, S.W.I. An INVITATION to Film and Literary Societies Schools • Technical Colleges and others — owning 16 mm. sound film projectors • AN OUTSTANDING INDUSTRIAL FILM "THE LONG ROAD" Free on loan for private showing by SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, FILM societies and other interested groups. "The Long Road" traces the evolution of the internal combustion engine and its fuel. Prints are available on 16 nun. S.M.P.E. standard only, and are all non-flam stock. Applications, which will be dealt with in rotation, for free use of this film should be addressed: — THE ETHYL EXPORT CORPORATION', Film Dept.Thames House. Millbank, S.W.I, and should be accompanied by details of the equipment over which it is proposed to show the film.