World Film News and Television Progress (Apr 1936-Mar 1937)

FILM SOCIETIES HOLLAND: Nine years ago, Joris Ivens founded the Film Liga. In this organisation he assembled hundreds of enthusiasts from all over the country. In his tiny theatre they gathered to see the latest developments in cinema. He did, in effect, found an Amateur Movement — a movement of independent film-makers, who were not content with theory alone. Rene Clair, Cavalcanti and Eisenstein delivered lectures in Amsterdam. The amateurs were busy with their cameras. Their subjects were the sea and the slums alike of their native country. Since 1933, there has been nothing to take the place of the Film Liga. But its work has not been in vain. Films such as Rutten's Dead Water and — more recently — Young Hearts, the work of two enterprising young men, are an indication that their influence is being felt to-day — an influence which urges that the life and occupations and surroundings of ordinary people are a worthy subject for the screen. MACLAREN WIRES: "I wish to let you know that owing to the swiftly changing international situation, we have dropped all plans. Instead we start making immediately, before anything else, an intense propaganda film for action against the forces leading to international war — for exposing the armament racket — for emphasising ghastliness of mass-slaughter — for urging every person who sees the film to act, and to show just what kinds of action he or she can take. "The film is designed to be seen primarily by working class audiences. We start shooting on the 1st May, and complete the film by July 31st." SUDBURY: Over 100 people, including representatives from the local and trade Press, were present at the opening of the Sudbury Amateur Film Society's new theatre recently. A party from the British Film Institute Society were also amongst the audience. W.F.N. -W.F.N. At the recent Conference of the Federation of Film Societies, representing the nineteen leading Film Societies in Great Britain, "World Film News" was appointed the official organ of the Federation. We acknowledge the honour and salute a movement which, with a proper contempt for magnates and mugwumps, has made the wide appreciation of the art of cinema possible. GLASGOW: Glasgow Film Society is the second oldest and second largest in the country. It was founded, shortly after the London Society, by D. Paterson Walker (who is still its secretary), Stanley L, Russell and Charles Fraser. The inaugural meeting was attended by thirteen. Its first performances were held in the private basement theatre of First-National Pathe. The first film shown was Caligari. The present chairman is C. A. Oakley, lecturer in Industrial Psychology in Glasgow University, who took a prominent part in the formation of the Scottish Film Council (the representative body of the British Film Institute in Scotland), of which he is now joint honorary secretary. Stanley L. Russell, who continues to serve on the Council, is also honorary secretary of the Meteor Film Producing Society, one of the most ambitious and successful amateur units in the country. He was instrumental in organising the Scottish Amateur Film Festival, and is chairman of the Amateur Cinematography Panel of the Scottish Film Council. An interesting feature of the Society is its magazine programme, which contains recommendations of films shown commercially in Glasgow, short articles, and a members" forum for discussion. FEDERATION The following are the principal resolutions adopted at the recent conference of the Federation of British Film Societies. These will now be passed to individual societies for agreement. The Federation agrees to co-operate with the London Film Society in the importation of one feature film and several short films in the season. Film societies affiliated to the Federation should make their bookings through the Federation, unless otherwise instructed by the Secretary of the Federation. The Secretary of the Federation shall prepare and issue, prior to the beginning of each new season, a list of films available to member societies. It was agreed that additional information relating to the affairs of the Federation, apart from the bulletin on available films, should be published monthly in "World Film News." It was agreed to call a conference of secretaries of member societies prior to the beginning of each season, in order to discuss films and booking arrangements. MANANA DF LA MANANA liv Basil Wright Ibiza, the least known and least spoilt of the Balearic Islands, is notable for its Moorish traditions which have persisted through seven centuries of Spanish domination. Its architecture bears an astonishing resemblance to the work of the modern functional designers. Some weeks ago I went, with John Taylor, to shoot a short documentary of the island for Thorold Dickinson's "Fact and Fantasy" series. Before leaving London we were assured by the Spanish authorities that there would be no objection to our filming Ibiza. We found an ancient walled city showing strong Moroccan influence. In the citadel was a small garrison of the comic-opera type. The first two days we spent taking shots around the garrison, watched by sleepy but quite interested sentries. On the third day. a plain-clothes policeman, with one eye, arrested us in a cafe, and announced that our camera and all our exposed film must be handed over to the Commandante of the garrison. We gave him the camera and 200 feet of unexposed colour film. The exposed film we put with the cockroaches under the bed. Days passed. Our morning visit to the Commandante became part of the barracks routine. Nothing happened. In despair we cabled the Generalissimo in Majorca. But he was Spanish, too, and had passed the buck to the War Office at Madrid. We took to fishing, halma, ludo, poker, dice, and other vices. We cabled London. The Foreign Office took up the matter and soon replied that all was et.. IBIZENKJAN CHURCH THE FILM AND PHOTO LEAGUE invites the co-operation of men and noinen who desire to produce pictures dealing ivith the real life and aspirations of the vast mass of British citizens to-day. The League aims at producing films and photographs of social and cultural value, and at co-ordinating the activities of individuals and organisations sympathetic to these aims. It also organises lectures, debates, shows etc., among its activities. Join us — our neiv address is 4o PARTON STREET, RED LION SQUARE, W.C.\ arranged. This, however, had no apparent effect on the Madrid lotus-eaters. Finally, when the Army had returned from its lengthy Easter siesta, the Commandante at Ibiza sent for us, and after keeping us waiting for only forty-five minutes, informed us that we might shoot. But only the churches. Never has the meaning of the word church been so elastically interpreted. At times it almost amoimted to blasphemy. But, in any case, the film was made. My only regret is that we ha\e no film record of the Commandante's soldiers drilling. They were a cross between Laurel and Hardy and the soldiers in Alice Through the Looking Glass. u