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

FILM SOCIETIES Fihii Societies Demand Better Films This is the film societies' off-season, in so far as no performances are held during the summer months. For the officials it should be, and for many is, a period of intensive activity, planning for the ensuing season, viewing films, taking stock. Most societies are satisfied with progress. Reports of increased membership, revenue and prestige are common, though some of the newer bodies have not yet reached calm waters and a balanced budget. What difficulties disturb the movement are mainly concerned with internal organisation. Lack of co-operation between the provincial and Scottish societies and the Film Society of London makes the problem of obtaining suitable films for exhibition increasingly difficult for societies outside London. Not so long ago almost any film shown at London's continental cinemas would have pleased provincial film society audiences. But to-day Miss Cohen and the Marquis de Casa Maury would find it a tougher job to cater for the critical Sunday afternoon audience of Newcastle or Wolverhampton than for London's West End. It is a fact — and a wholesome and encouraging fact — that the majority of London's continental films are turned down or booked only as a last resort by most film societies. A few years ago the problem was to get an audience for good films : the problem now is to get films good enough for the audience. Of the comparatively small number of foreign films which reach the top class many, for one reason or another, are not available for film society presentation. In tackling this problem of film supply the closest possible co-operation is necessary between all societies to ensure (1) that all continental films brought into the country are made available to film societies if they desire them. (This may involve Quota difficulties and these, too, can only be overcome by combined effort.) (2) That where necessary films will be imported specially for the use of film societies. (3) That the personnel of the London Film Society and of the provincial and Scottish societies must work in closer collaboration and in harmony. In a recent issue of W.F.N. Thorold Dickenson blamed the Federation of British Film Societies for not co-operating sufficiently with the London Society. If' the Federation would guarantee to book solidly only four films per year, he declared, the burden of the London Society would be eased considerably. This is a most reasonable request to which all societies, it is certain, would be eager to accede if they could get the films. Actually requests for Film Society presentations are frequently met with a polite refusal, There may be good reasons for this, but to the iminitiated secretary in Manchester or Dundee it is decidedly mystifying to be asked for support and to have it refused. At the recent Federation conference at Leicester there was every evidence of a very real 'desire to get together on a sound basis of co-operative activity. Without exception every society repre sented appeared not only willing but painfully anxious to get the machinery set in motion. If the proposals for co-operative booking and importation discussed and agreed upon at the conference, and now awaiting ratification by the member societies, are made effective most of the serious troubles of the officials should be at an end. Their energies would then be released for extending local propaganda activities and for concentrating on the growth of the movement in new spheres. Apart from the question of film supply there is another aspect of film society activity, not discussed at Leicester, which calls for co-operative effort. That is the organisation of lectures by acknowledged authorities in creative cinema. A number of societies do organise lectures and even study courses, but independently and often imder difficulties in obtaining speakers and paying for their expenses. The Council of the Federation is obviously the appropriate body to co-ordinate arrangements in this field. The importance of this feature of propaganda is sufficient to warrant considerable widening in scope and extension to every society in the movement. It should not be an impossible task to form a panel of speakers and to organise lecture tours covering societies situated in convenient geographical groups — Southern, Midland, Northern, Scottish, etc. Expense to individual societies would thus be reduced and responsible speakers would be more ready to undertake conveniently arranged lectures which would save time wasted in travelling. This is a matter which should come before the first meeting of the Council so that an experimental scheme can be prepared ready for the coming season. Societies which would welcome such a scheme should intimate their views and requirements to the Council at the first opportunity. NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES WOLVERHAMPTON'S FIRST YEAR The first armual report of the Wolverhampton Film Society reports progress in spite of considerable difficulties. The local Watch Committee would not aUow Sunday performances. Finances and membership have therefore been affected by having to rent an inferior theatre on week-nights. Among feature films presented, Germany, Russia, France, America and Britain have been represented. '"There can be no doubt," the report states, "that the first season of the Society will be remembered because of the wealth of documentary films shown. It is evident that in this direction Britain leads the world." Three lectures — by Professor E. R. Dodds, John Barber and Stanley Hawes — have been given and a discussion group met regularly. Close contact is maintained with the neighbouring Film Society of Birmingham. The financial statement shows a small balance of cash on hand. GLASGOW'S MIXED SEASON The Glasgow Film Society reports a "mixtymaxty season." On the one side there have been the shorts — surely the best in the Society's history. On the other side there have been the features, some of which have been well below average. "So consistently have we been told that the films we wanted were 'not available' that we have become almost resigned to these rebuffs." Certain of the films shown "would undoubtedly have been rejected" had others been obtainable. Many members expressed considerable dissatisfaction with some of the presentations. The final performance of the season included a selection of the historic films recently exhibited at the London Polytechnic. OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED BELFAST SOCIETY Strong opposition from the churches is being experienced in trying to form a film society in Beffast with plans to hold Simday performances ne.xt winter. The shows will be for members only but considerable difficulty is being experienced in getting the Corporation to consider licensing the Society. Sunday cinemas are baimed in Beffast. DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMMES ? At its third aimual general meeting the Merseyside Film Institute Society decided to hold an enquiry into "the practice of giving doublefeature programmes in the cinemas." It also decided to form an amateur film unit for the study and production of sub-standard films. The first work plaimed, mainly as an experiment, is on the subject of "Transport." A composite film will be produced largely from shots new and old supphed by members. FILM CRITIC'S LECTURE COURSE AT LEICESTER Leshe Cargill, film critic of the Leicester Mercury, has been giving members of the Leicester Film Society a lecture cotu-se on "How to Look at a Film." Similar courses are planned each season by the Leicester Society, which has the co-operation of the Vaughan College of Adult Education in organising this part of its work. BIRMINGHAM FILM SOCIETY In addition to a successful season of shows and lectures to members, artanged in conjimction with the Midland Adult School Union, two extra meetings were arranged when The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari was shown. W. H. Auden, the poet who has recently contributed verse to several G.P.O. productions, introduced a discussion. A lectiu-e on the history and technique of the film was also given to a local girls' school. CANADA ORGANISES Lord Tweedsmuir is now Honorary President of the National Film Society of Canada. The President is Dr. Sydney Smith, head of Manitoba University. Lord Tweedsmuir was at one time Chairman of the Scottish Film Council. The Society was formed a year ago for promoting the cultural aspects of cinema. It now has branches in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver. 43