The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1944-09-23
OPINIONS OPINIONATED
The 90 CoIumn)
PROPAGANDA IN MOTION PICTURES
BY JAMES ECERT ALLEN

NEW YORK-Perhaps medium of imparting in-
formation and propaganda surpases that of the motion
picture 1t is way Of reaching the rank and file of
all races, classes and creeds. At times, saunter into
theatre generally for midnight performance Most of
the crowd has and the opportunity for serious study
of picture is at its best Very subtle is the underlying
theme in many instances Such picture Mrs Minver
attempts to break down the cast system in England Coo
ing My Way portrays the role of the Cathode Church in
meeting the needs of youth The rewards of implicit
faith to the little heroine in The Song of Berna-
dette. Santa Fe Trail depicts John Brown lover of
humanity fanatcal old man, ignorant of any high
purpose or intent Tennessee Johnson tries to debase
the grand old fighter for human justice Thaddeus Stevens.
Whether for good for evil the motion picture contr-
butes much in the shaping of public opinion Weak
tempts to display the achievements of coored people
in mediocre productions The Coored Soldier and
1--WE Have Come A Long Ways" merely scratch the sur
face of building good will The dramatic spectacle of black
folks waits for the future The material ready the
forces behind the production lag because of and
examinations from antisocial factors.
THE PICTURE WILSON"
do wish to express feeling in regard to the record
breaking picture, "Wlson. My late father having been
Presbyterian minister for forty years. and Repub-
ican of his life, reached the conclusion upon the
nomination of Woodrow Wilson candidate for president
that distinguished of the and faithful Presby-
terian elder, could do wrong. AS youngster work.
ing at the New Jersey seashore the governor fire.
quenty at his cottage located in Sea Grit His cleo
ton to the presidency meant to me- the good will
in national life. True worthy reforms came into
reality but human relations became worse Washington
lans tell that of segregation and discrimination
swept over Capital Hill. In governmental agencies in
stallation of separate facilities for white and colored
workers took place 1t was attributed to the Georgia DO
wife of the president AS in real life so in the picture
Not single instance of recognition of colOred citizens at
home abroad In where the presidential far
lily inspect the White House, they enter the where
Abraham Lincoln died. They read the inscription framed
over the bed. To rank hypocrisy because the
injunction was totally mheeded during their reign the
White House. One may also recall the introduction to
Smms, the butler This the lone cast of any con-
tact with coored people The called out that he
was from Georgia and that his mother the aundress
for the wfes mother Smms stated that they both spoke
the same language which true in that it was the lam
guage of southern bigotry and prejudice "Wson" is
typical picture of national life following CLOSELY the
pattern of histories 1t rich in color and fanatica
devotion to the ideals the War time executive Lodge
the recacitran senator from Massachusetts, is depicted
expressed by the president bleeding and broken nations
IN far away Europe conrased with the practices heap
ed upon honest and decent citizens here in America belle
the possibility of constructing League of Nations for
all men regardless of race creed color can read much
between the lines in this picture 1t sets up and fosters
the American pattern of preaching but not praccng The
movie comes at most opporune time since another war
time president is planning with other great leaders thu
future OF the world. Will this future be ideastic or
realstc! The answer will determine whether another
attempt to corral the nations of the world will be so much
time wasted.