The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-04-07
Picture Industry
Donates Films to
Army and Navy

Combat-weary Yanks, re-
lieved from front-line duty by
requirements and sent to the
rear to rest, turn to movies as q
means of escape from the mad
business of battle, according to
letters received in towns
throughout the country by rela-
tives and friends of boys now in
foreign service.
These letters complained at
first that the pictures were
old, but recent correspondence ends
complaints and indicates that con-
ditions are improved.
New Hollywood productions fresh
from the studios are shipped to all
theaters of war by the Army Over
seas Motion Picture service and are
shown somewhere every night in
every combat zone occupied by
American troops.
Protected by top priorities, these
film programs, printed in the 16-mm.
size and known as Films for Fight
ing Men" are gift from the motion
picture industry which began in Feb
ruary, 1912, with the presentation
Of 80 prints from four different pic
lures. Since then these free films
have gradually increased until now
a total of 189 pictures are issued
each week, divided into SO prints
each of three different programs.
Each program includes full-length
feature and at least one short sub
ject. To date the grand total Of
1872 programs has been sent over
seas.
These programs of new films are
shown only to uniformed members
of the armed forces in combat zones,
and to sick and wounded in over
seas hospitals, and to men on iso-
lated outposts where other film en-
tertainment cannot be had.
When troops are en- route to battle
fronts on transports, they are shown
specially selected 16-mm. film YER
sions of ''Hits of the Past" This
avoids duplicate showings Of new
films, so servicemen do not see the
same pictures twice.
Musical Shows Favorites.
Every feature-length picture and
every short subject made by the ma
jor studios in Hollywood is included
in this service, offered to our armed
forces through a selection board in
New York city composed of army
and civilian personnel. This board is
guided in its choice by expressions
from soldier audiences in the various
theaters of war. Opinions polled to
date show that servicemen's tastes
lean toward musicals, comedies and
light drama. War pictures are last
on their list, while features and
shorts which bring views of the good
old U. S. A. are always welcome.
Upon reaching the various war
theaters, these 16-rnm. finishes
than half the size of those seen in
your local theater-are sent to the
various combat zones through 10
film exchanges maintained by the
Army Overseas Motion Picture serv-
4SCs 44dlAOlCo III tll1o ACAOSC0 olLS,
they are easy to ship and can be
exhibited on portable equipment
readily transported in active re-
gions.
The showing of these pictures is
always subject, of course, to the haz-
ards of war. Usually they are dis
played to battle-weary troops in rest
areas behind the front. The OBJ
ject, however, is to get them as
near the fighting line as possible. In
some instances they have been
shown so close to the line of battle
that prisoners subsequently captured
said they heard the sound track.
Although planned originally for the
army only, recent arrangements
made through the war department
have thrown these showings open to
all combat troops, regardless of their
branch of service. This includes the