The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-18
and
CLOSEUPS
BY LENS

v production on a film telling of
a Civil War veteran whose two
sons become involved in commu-
nistic activities. Willard Mack in
part of the old soldier recruits
services Of veterans at Sawtelle
Soldiers Home and succeeds in
/ quelling red uprising and strike. I"
The quotation is from a Colum-
bia publicity release which goes on
to say that this film, labelled Call
To Arms" is different and chuck
full of pathos, thrills and romance. /"
:. He'll Columbia, indeed! :. And
right after NO Greater Glory
that not so subtle piece of war
propaganda Here's swell lead
for John L. Spivak E. Dig up the
Columbia patch run by the Cohn
boys ;. Some dangerous worms in
that there dirt. -.
AND here's one you'll love The
n publicity department of Warner
Brothers, NOT JIM CAGNEY, is
sued the statement denying all
sympathy with the California labor
movement. -.
WHY are the bourgeois movie
W critics leaning all the way
back in their praise of "Our Daily
Bread? And to those among
us who forgive Mr.. King Vidor on
the grounds of naiviete and confu-
sion Bella Belasz's quotation from
Marx might profitably be repeated
here: They don't know what they
do, but they do it just the same"
And to make films strongly
flavoring of fascism at the sacrifice
Of ones personal property" and
under the impression of contribute
ing solution to the unemployment
problem" is doing it just the same
Furthermore, it is far cry
from desiring to do film version of
"Stevedore" to actually doing Our
Daily Bread" I am convinced
of Vidor's honest desire to CON
tribute to the solution of the unem-
ployment problem" . But shud-
der runs down my back when I
think of the millions of movie
goers who will be asked to swallow
the reactionary lesson of Our Daily
Bread" -.
HERE are some of the questions
III the super exploited Hollywood
extras have to answer in order to
retain their jobs (NR.A. require
ment): Are you an American citi-
zen? Have you ever been arrested?
If so, how many times? Have you
ever been under the influence Of
Intoxicating liquor or had such in
your possession while working in a
picture? Are you married or di-
vorced? Etc. Extras Promised
Better New Deal BY Bureau Boss
Headline in Variety Frank
Scully treasures the Hollywood film
barons that Sinclair's election viii
not affect their income in any way
=. Right again, Frank i. And If
you don't care to have your stomach
turn on you don't examine the film
studio schedules for the coming
half year. David Platt is the
new national secretary of the Film
and Photo League. -.
FLASHl FLASH! FLASH
AS write these words, I am
"A handed a letter from Columbia
Pictures to the Film and Photo
League in which Samuel Briskin,
general manager, states the fol-
lowing:
'Tf you will kindly point out to
us precisely what portions of this
picture (Call To Arms are sus-
ceptible to criticism upon the
grounds enumerated In your THE
Film and Photo League's-L.)
wires, we shall be pleased to
cause the elimination of any such
portions which are reasonably
calculated to injure the movement
sponsored by your organization"
Besides the synopsis quoted at
the head of this column and broad
cast by the Columbia Offices them
selves we are in possession of con-
elusive proof that Call To Arms"
is the most undisguised attack on
Communism and the labor move
rnert yet attempted by Hollywood
studio. Until Mr.. Briskin and his
employers can prove otherwise, the
Film and Photo League will be
satisfied with no less than COM
plete revision of the script or its
immediate withdrawal from pro-
duction. Mr.. Briskin fools no one
when he states in his letter that
ut has always been our policy to
avoid propaganda for or against
either side of any public ISSUE"
This while the Film and Photo
League is still in the midst of an
intensive campaign to boycott and
picket Columbia's propaganda
film, mo Greater Glory!