Committee Recommendation This film explaining the historical reasons for the structure of our Federal Government has its greatest usefulness in junior and senior high school social-studies classes, and in adult citizenship classes.

Servant of the People

Produced by Metro-Goldwyn

16mm sound, b/w, 21 minutes, 1937. Mayer. Lease from Teaching Film Custodians Inc., $60. Rent from film libraries of educational institutions.

Film Summary Dramatizes the difficulties and confusion resulting from State sovereignty under the Articles of Confederation; the calling of the Constitutional Convention in 1787; Randolph's presentation of the Virginia Plan and the opposition to this plan; Franklin's effecting a series of compromises; and the signing of the Constitution.

Committee Recommendation This film, interestingly and dramatically produced, is useful as an introduction to the study of the Constitution, an explanation of the reasons for certain Constitutional provisions, and a demonstration of democratic processes. For grades 7-12, college, and adult audiences.

The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights

16mm sound, color, 17 minutes, 1939. Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. Lease from Teaching Film Custodians Inc., $120. Rent from film libraries of educational institutions.

Film Summary Portrays by means of dramatic reenactment some of the events influencing the colonists' demand for freedom of speech, religion, and person, and culminating in the adoption of the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution known as the Bill of Rights. Focuses upon events in Virginia, including the Royal Governor's dissolving of the Assembly, meetings of such leaders as Jefferson and Madison, the Governor's appropriation of the colonists' powder, Patrick Henry's speech, and the colonists' revolt in Williamsburg. Closes with Madison's speech for the adoption of the Bill of Rights.

Committee Recommendation This film dramatizes some of the colonists' concern for certain guarantees of personal freedom and can be best used as background to a study of the origin of our Bill of Rights. For grades 7-12, college, and adult audiences.

Our Bill of Rights

16mm sound, b/w, 20 minutes, 1940.

Produced by Academic Film Co. Purchase from Post Pictures Corp., $90. Rent from 16mm film libraries.

876415-503

Film Summary Reenactment of several hypothetical meetings in 1789 of Washington, Adams, Franklin, Hamilton, Jay, Madison, and Randolph and their discussion of whether the Constitution should be amended to include the so-called Bill of Rights. Under Madison's leadership and with Washington's approval, the amendments are passed by Congress and later ratified by the States. The film lists and explains briefly each of the first ten amendments.

Committee Recommendation Although the conversational quality of this film may make it seem dull to some students, the beliefs of Washington, Madison, and the other men portrayed, taken from their speeches and letters, are dramatic in themselves and should interest most students. The film is best used, of course, as background to the study of the Bill of Rights in American history and government classes. For grades 10-12, college, and adult audiences.

The Story That Couldn't Be Printed

16mm sound, b/w, 11 minutes, 1939. Produced by Metro-GoldwynMayer. Lease from Teaching Film Custodians Inc., $30. Rent from film libraries of educational institutions.

Film Summary Emphasizes the theme of freedom of the press by dramatizing the story of John Peter Zenger who was arrested in 1734 for publishing in his newspaper an attack upon the Governor of New York; was imprisoned, tried, and nearly convicted; then acquitted as a result of his lawyer's plea for freedom of speech and of the press. Narrated by John Nesbit.

Committee Recommendation This film is an interesting, well-told account of an early fight for freedom of the press and is useful as an introduction to the study of the Bill of Rights and particularly of the freedom of the press. For grades 7-12 and adult audiences.

Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln in the White House

16mm sound, color, 21 minutes, 1939. Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. Lease from Teaching Film Custodians Inc., $120. Rent from film libraries of educational institutions.

Film Summary Dramatizes family and public incidents in the life of President Lincoln during the Civil War, including his receiving news of the firing on Fort Sumter, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, pardoning Mrs. Scott's son, and delivering the Gettysburg address.

Committee Recommendation While members of the Committee disagreed as to the accuracy and integrity of the portrayal of Lincoln in this film, they did agree on its usefulness, particularly with general audiences. For grades 7-12 and adults.

The Public Life of Abraham Lincoln

16mm sound, b/w, 35 minutes, 1930. Compiled from D. W. Griffith's Abraham Lincoln and presented by Gordon W. Hedwig. Purchase from Nu-Art Films Inc., $150. Rent from Nu-Art or from other 16mm film libraries.

Film Summary This film consists of selected sequences from the feature-length film, Abraham Lincoln, starring Walter Huston, and emphasizes Lincoln's public life during the years 1860-65. After a brief review of important dates in Lincoln's life, including excerpts from the Lincoln-Douglas debates, the film shows Lincoln's being asked to be the Republican Party candidate for the Presidency; his overruling his cabinet and ordering that relief be sent to Fort Sumter; Northern and Southern troops marching to war; President Lincoln's pardoning a young soldier sentenced to death for desertion; his signing the Emancipation Proclamation; a rally of a retreating Northern army; General Lee's countermanding his aide's order to shoot a spy; Lincoln's explanation and defense of his terms of surrender; and finally, the President's assassination in Ford's Theatre.

Committee Recommendation This condensation of the Walter Huston feature film should be particularly useful in social-studies classes. While it is episodic, the particular sequences portray Lincoln's character and his great contribution to American democracy. For grades 7-12, college, and adult audiences.

Young Mr. Lincoln

16mm sound, b/w, 105 minutes, 1939. Produced by Twentieth CenturyFox Corporation. Not for sale. Rent from Films Inc.

Film Summary Henry Fonda portrays Abraham Lincoln in his early thirties practicing law in Springfield, Ill. While the film refers briefly to Nancy Hanks and Ann Rutledge and suggests the importance of Stephen Douglas and Mary Todd in Lincoln's later life, its major emphasis is upon Lincoln as a young lawyer, his attitude toward law and justice, and his feeling for people. The major part of the film deals with a single case and shows Lincoln halting a lynching, agreeing to defend the accused, pleading in court, and winning the case.

Committee Recommendation This is an extremely dramatic and inspirational picture of Abraham Lincoln, his belief in justice and in people, and will be both interesting and educational to junior and senior high school students, college students, and adults.

16mm sound, b/w, 16 minutes, 1945. Produced by March of Time (Forum Edition). Purchase from MOT, $55. Rent from 16mm film libraries.

Film Summary Dramatizes several instances of intolerance in the United States and shows what has been done in various parts of the country to combat racial and religious discrimination. Includes statements by various American leaders and explains the work of the Southern Regional Council and the Springfield, Mass., schools.

Committee Recommendation While this film is now somewhat dated, the issues it presents are not. It can still be profitably used to focus attention upon this important problem of American democracy and to stimulate discussion and further study. For senior high school, college, and adult audiences. Recommended as an aid to adult discussion by the Institute of Adult Education.

Immigration

16mm sound, b/w, 11 minutes, 1946. Produced by Encyclopaedia Britannica Films Inc. Purchase from EBF, $50. Rent from EBF or from 16mm film libraries.

Film Summary Explains that the people of the United States are

all immigrants or the children of immigrants and shows by means of animated maps the migrations from Europe, Africa, and Asia during successive periods of the last 300 years. Portrays European peasants and political and religious refugees leaving their homes and coming to America, their entrance through Ellis Island, and their assimilation into various. communities. Closes with a tribute to "Americans all."

Committee Recommendation This film can be used generally in social-studies classes as an introduction to the study of immigration, and to demonstrate the "melting pot" concept of America. It might well be shown with the film One People. For grades 7-12 and adult audiences.

New Americans

16mm sound, b/w, 17 minutes, 1944. Produced by RKO Pathe Inc. Lease from RKO Radio Pictures Inc., $90. Rent from 16mm film libraries.

Film Summary Tells the story of America's immigrants through the experiences of Johann Lang, refugee from Vienna, as he passes the New York immigration authorities, gazes at the wonders of Manhattan, goes to the National Refugee Service, receives training in furniture upholstering, obtains a job in a Midwest city, and fills out papers declaring his intention to become a citizen of the United States. Protrays some of the lesser- and greater-known immigrants, including Thomas Mann and Albert Einstein, and closes with a survey of citizenship requirements and a scene of new Americans taking the oath of citizenship.

Committee Recommendation This film accents not only the process of becoming citizens but also the meaning of that citizenship-to an individual immigrant and to the United States as a whole. It has teaching value in high school and college civics and government classes and inspirational value in general meetings of students and of adults. Rated "acceptable" for adult group discussion by the Institute of Adult Education.

One People

16mm sound, color, 12 minutes, 1946. Purchase from the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, $60. Rent from the Anti-Defamation League or from 16mm film libraries.

Film Summary By superimposing upon a map of the United States cartoon characters representing in dress and appearance the various countries from which immigrants have come to the United States, this film portrays and lists the various nationalities now welded, the commentator (Ralph Bellamy) says, into "one people."