Survey of World Cinema

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SURVEY OF WORLD CINEMATHE FILM TILL NOW A SURVEY OF WORLD CINEMA"PREFACEIt was with some misgivings that I decided to let this bookbe republished, although it had been often requested. Whenit was written in 1929, I had had about twelve months'practical work of film-making, having spent an excessiveamount of my childhood and schooldays in cinemas. Thefirst draft manuscript was about three times its publishedlength, and perhaps the main thing in its favour was that itshowed an enthusiasm for films. It also set down withfair accuracy a large amount of factual information noteasily found elsewhere. It came about like this.In 1928 I was employed first as an e outside man * (whichmeant hiring furniture and properties) and later as anassistant in the art-department in the biggest British filmstudio of the time. My youthful impetuosity led me tocriticise the lack of creative opportunities in the studiowhere I worked, and within a few days I was out on thestreet with nothing in my pocket 1 Many may now forgetthat 1929 saw the almost complete shut-down of Britishstudios because of Hollywood's revolutionary change-overto the sound film. So, thwarted in my wish to be associatedwith making films I turned to the next best thing writingabout them. Mr. Jonathan Cape gave me the opportunity,for which I have always been grateful. Eighteen monthslater The Film Till Now appeared, to be received in generalby a friendly Press with the exception of the Trade's ownpapers.Naively I believed that its theories and facts would unlockthe studio doors again to me. The opposite took place. Ifound employment still harder to get, until luckily I metPage 1

SURVEY OF WORLD CINEMAMr. John Grierson. He asked me to join his little unitat the Empire Marketing Board, where I worked for sixmonths learning the rudiments of the documentary filmmethod.1 Film Weekly, November 12, 1928.ISPREFACESince then I have been occupied mainly in making filmsand helping others to make them. There has been littletime for writing books. The Film Till Now should, ofcourse, have been wholly re-written; but I wonder if itwould have been fair to alter points of view held nearlytwenty years ago? Finally it was decided to let the mainbody of the original text be reprinted as it stood, makingonly minor changes required for accuracy. Tempting asit was in places to modify an opinion, or add a new pointof view, it has not been done. This is especially the casein regard to the Soviet chapter and with the early formativeyears of the American cinema. Prophecies about thedialogue film, largely disproved though they have beensubsequently, must stand. I ask the reader's indulgence.I have, however, been unable to resist adding a number ofnew footnotes where I felt they were justified. Knowingthat perhaps the most used section of the book has beenthe Appendix of Production Units of some OutstandingFilms, this list has been revised, expanded and broughtup-to-date. The same has been done for the Glossary ofTechnical Terms and the Book List The volume has "alsobeen re-illustrated. Most of the stills are from well-knownand important films but occasionally, as with Lady Killeror Be Big, one has been included because it representsa trend in film subjects or styles rather than the film fromwhich it is taken.Page 2

SURVEY OF WORLD CINEMATo bring the survey as a whole up to 1948, I sought thehelp of my old friend in America, Mr. Richard Griffith,knowing that his approach to films is very close to mine,He was almost the first correspondent I had after thepublication of the book in America in 1930, second onlyto the late Eric Knight, perhaps one of the best film criticswe have ever had. Mr. Griffith now holds the importantpost of Executive-Director at the National Board ofReview of Motion Pictures in New York. He is alsoAssistant Director of the Museum of Modern ArtFilm Library in the same city. He has thus a wideexperience in film viewing both past and present It should16I. LES SEPT CHATEAUX DE DIABLE, directed by ZECCA. [French, 1907]2. CRIPPLE CREEK BARROOM, by EDISON. [American, 1898]3. L'HIPPOCAMPE, directed by JEAN PAINLEV& [French, 1934]4. THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME, directed by WILLIAM CAMERONMENZIES.[British, 1935]Page 3

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