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

Religious Barnstormers Sidetrack Church Fihns WE ASKED Aveling Ginever to tell us about the churches Would they make religious films or films of social service? Would they try to put their films in the theatres? Would the Methodists work with Anglicans or break loose into Evangelical sob stories? Aveling Ginever is an expert. He has seen the growth of the religious film movement from its beginning. He has made more films for the churches than any other producer: films like Maslership. Service and In Our Time. He discusses the psychological problems of religious .Aveling Ginever appeal with the detachment of a man who has heard all the sectarians in full cry and knows their diflTerences. After five years in the troubled politics of the Church he finds Wardour Street quiet to the point of gentility. He does not see how under the present policy the Religious Film Society can be a binding force on the various denominations. The differences of outlook are too deep. The situation at present is that the Religious Film Society attempts to combine the film energies of both Methodists and Anglicans. It is the executive body of the Cinema Church Council and the Missionary Film Society, on both of which all denominations are represented. But except for the relatively small matter of subscriptions, finance comes from one source. That source is Rank : miller, Methodist and miUionaire. And having spent £25.000 on the cause. Rank calls the tune. The Religious Film Society has turned out four films — Maslership and Service by Ginever, Barahhas by Sloane, and The Common Round by Rank's commercial organisation. National Films. All of them were Methodist chosen and Methodist made. The Anglican church may have cathedrals and seats in the Lords, but, on the Religious Film Society, it is a poor relation. Ginever says there are two bases on which cooperation between the churches is possible. If they would allow the artist to interpret religion on the screen, they would find a common ground. If they directed their efforts to social service, they would again find a common ground in the health and housing and welfare of the people. But the churches, it seems, have not been willing to trust the artist : and the quiet educational atmosphere of social service has not seemed exciting enough for the more evangelical spirits. As in education, the development of the religious film has been greatly hampered by the exhibitionists. The barnstormers and the showmen have seized the opportunity of film to increase the appeal of their services. For the time being they have focused attention on the more melodramatic uses of film, and the more penetrating uses are being lost sight of. It is difficult to see how the Anglican church can agree to the methods of, say, the Rev. W. H. H. Lax. Its "mystical content"" is not expressed in quite the same way. Lax presents his gospel in terms of men picked from the gutter, saved from drunkenness and wife-beating and, after a "'glorious spiritual resurrection,"" brought to ""honour and success. "" If the Religious Film Society is to represent a collective force, says Ginever, it must make its appeal on deeper grounds than these. The solution would seem to be that sectional interests should be followed sectionally. The Religious Film Society, as the combining unit, will have to take its stand on the common ground of social service, and on a really esthetic interpretation of a common Gospel. News Review Public relations pictures are booming, 1937 crop of productions completed or scheduled already exceeds 100. One company alone has schedule of 53. * * * Austin Motors have another quintette of onereelers under general title The Road Leads On. Four of these are in the cutting room ; fifth nearing completion. Productions supervised by J. F. Bramley, Austin film executive; photographed for Publicity Films by T. R. Thumbwood. * * * Chocolate and custard will be the dominant themes of two other programmes, sponsored by the houses of Cadbury and Bird. Bird's entry into public relations film field not unconnected with experience of Cadbury. Bird"s Merchandising director is George Cadbury, younger son of cocoa family. * * * Willard Van der Veer, ace cameraman of Audio Productions Inc.. leading public relations film producers in U.S..'\., on a visit to London in connection with an Anglo-American film assignment. Enthusiastic over progress made by public relations units in last three years. Declares the technical work on this side of the Atlantic is now equal to that of U.S. (except in cartoon field). Admits that U.S.A. has nothing equivalent to British documentary school. Van der Veer is one of eighteen members of the 78 Club, band of hardy men who have been 78 degrees North and South of the Equator. He filmed Byrd"s first expedition to Little America. * * * Large patent medicine combine likely to be the next entrants into the film propaganda field, with a scheme running into five figures. * * * Paul Stein, who completed Cafe Colette i\i\y 20, supervising unusual public relations film for Garrick. Details next month. * * * Cape Town Railways and Harbours Board reports : ""In the field of film propaganda, an agreement was completed whereby the sound fihns produced under the auspices of the Administration are placed on circuit throughout Great Britain."" Describing showing of abridged version of Witwatersrand gold-mining film at London Plaza, the report adds that '"the resultant publicity for South Africa cannot be overestimated." This London showing was arranged by International Productions Ltd. * * * Further reports from South Africa indicate that a "new and comprehensive publicity film 10.000 to 12.000 ft. in length "" is now being prepared. It will depict "principal historical and scenic features of the Union, and give a brief representation of present-day living conditions.'" Symphonic music is being used in place of commentary wherever possible, to overcome the language difficulty. * * • Sunderland the next Northern town to star in propaganda film. G.B. to make a picture stressing its historical and industrial associations. Sydney Box