(Untitled record)

Series

Series Name

The March of Time 5th Year

Issue

Issue No.

4

Date Released

4 Sep 1939

Length of issue (in feet)

1950

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1(Untitled record)

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 1

Summary

Today’s Cinema synopsis: This issue of the famous series ... is devoted to the history of films from its early experimental beginnings to the flawless technique of to-day’s talkies. To a commentary which stresses the duty the producer owes to the public, we are shown excerpts from famous films at different stages of the development of the film, with glimpses of famous players such as Theda Bara, Lilian Gish, Rudolph Valentino, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and John Gilbert. The most impressive of all the excerpts from old films is the finale to "All Quiet on the Western Front", while the shot of fifty-year-old Charlie Chaplin playing tennis linked with the implication that he will burlesque Hitler in "The Dictator" was received with applause and cheers. Among them big men in the American industry, we are introduced to Harry and Jack Warner, Sam Goldwyn and Cecil B. deMille, but no mention is made of the valiant work accomplished by Carl Laemmle through Universal; and although this may be excused in that Mr. Laemmle has retired from the business, we fail to understand why Barney Balaban was introduced for Paramount when Adolph Zukor, who has probably accomplished more for the industry than any one individual connected with it and is still an active executive of the company, is not even mentioned. Surely he is deserving of a mention, if only in that he instituted the star system - still the most dependable method of ensuring box-office returns. Reference is made to the New York museum in which the history of the film is being preserved, and there are untitled glimpses of future films, including MGM’s "The Women" and Disney’s "Pinocchio". An interesting survey, necessarily restricted in scope, it should prove hugely to the liking of all audiences.

Written sources

Today’s Cinema   31 July 1939, p4. Used for synopsis