PICTURES AS PROPAGANDA AGENT

Evening Star, Issue 23527, 16 March 1940, Page 5

PICTURES AS PROPAGANDA AGENT

Parts To Play In Peace and War

Appreciation of Cultural Values

Motion picture# had a part to play in times of war a# well as y during peace, and 4 The Lion Has Wings ’ was an early example of how a picture could be used for necessary propaganda, said Mr John Grierson, Canadian Government Film Commissioner, when addressing film distributors and exhibitors assembled in Wellington for their annual conference. While he did not know how 4 The Lion Has Wings’ had been received in New Zealand, it had arrived in Canada at a most opportune time—a time when it was necessary to reassure Canadians by showing what Was being done oh the other side of the Atlantic.

Mr Grierson was the chief at a luncheon arranged by the 33 Club on behalf of the film industry in New Zealand, and among the guests were many Australian picture theatre personalities. “ Fellow members of perhaps the craaiest industry' in the world,” said Mr Grierson, “ the tales we hear in of New Zealand are strange indeed. We hear of New Zealand as a paradise on earth, a land of eternal sunshine, a place where the biggest fish in the world are caught, where there are no unemployed, and where —no, I had better not; mention money but the strangest thing of all about New Zealand is that it i» the only

place where the distributing lion lies down with the exhibiting lamb; (Laughter.) ■ , Since arriving in New Zealand, Mr . Grierson added, he had heard that the film industry had, offered the, Government full co-operation in the country’swar effort, but that had happened everywhere. Producers in England had taken immediate action, with the result that the Empire had seen ‘ The Lion Has Wings,’ a film produced in five weeks by the efforts of half a dozen companies. He did not know how it had been received in New Zealand, but in Canada it had arrived at the right time, because the country was badly in need, of information regarding Britain’s strength. BRINGING THINGS TOGETHER. Motion pictures had an infinite capacity for 'bringing events together so that the observer could see the whole effects of important happenings in an hour and a-half. Canadian producers were co-operating to produce pictures of value in wartime, and they were also using their influence to get the co-operation of producers at Hollywood in the production of suitable films. An instructive ‘ March of Time ’ film on Canada at war would he released shortly, and other pictures would be made for the purpose of keeping the civilian population iu tohch with'' the activities of their men abroad. Human interest would he given especial attention. It did not take the war to teach hs what a great asset the film was, Mr Grierson said. A picture like * Good-bye, Mr Chips,’ was of great importance to England, because it told other countries just what the spirit of England was. While they were providing entertainment, films were also making a great contribution to culture. The cost of producing a full-length picture was so great that the finished article - must have a wide appeal, but Hollywood was doing great things In welding together popular appeal with depth of purpose. Wild Western appeal had been finked with the stirring story of the crossing of the North American continent, and entertaining -and instructional films were being made with the life stories of great men. Attention had also ' been attracted to the need for removing evils in the community. CULTURAL VALUES. There had also been a great improvement in newsreels and shorts. Hollywood was not the “ hick ” place some critics claimed, hut a place where an enormous amount of. ingenuity was put into an industry. More and more of value in a cultural ser’.e was being put into pictures while their entertainment value was maintained. Motion pier turn had given the people of the world a sense of life, of humour, had taught them howto dress, how to behave, and even how to walk. The motion picture industry was a

form of printing press, because it was able to make stories, records of scientific discoveries, could give dramatic accounts of public affairs, had a great part to play in education, in industry, health, town planning, and many other things. The industry could be of great assistance to everyone by showing a sympathtfc interest in national, development, and there was an obligation upon them all to help in that direction. Mr Grierson is renowned_ for his work in producing documentary films for the British Government and for his wide knowledge, of the industry.