Film Summary Portrays the contributions of Haym Solomon in the Revolutionary War: his participation in the "Sons of Liberty" organization, capture and imprisonment by the British, and his raising of money for General Washington and the Continental Army. Features Claude Rains. Committee Recommendation In addition to its value as back ground to the study of American history and traditions this film helps provide an understanding of the Jews' contributions to the founding of America and can be used in the development of racial tolerance. For grades 6-12. United States 16mm sound, b/w, 46 minutes, 1945. Produced by the Directorate of Army Kinematography for the British War Office. Purchase from British Information Services, $100. Rent from BIS or from 16mm film libraries. Film Summary An American soldier in England overhears a British soldier and his girl describing the United States as a nation of gangsters. thinks of his home in Indiana, and wishes that someone would explain to the British what the United States is really like. A British commentator then describes the United States, its origin and history, the settlements at Jamestown and Plymouth, Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War, westward expansion and the growth of Chicago; the differences between the United States and England; characteristic habits and preferences of Americans; and the cooperative war effort of Great Britain and the United States. Committee Recommendation While this film was produced for British soldiers, it is such a fair and sympathetic portrayal of American democratic traditions that it is particularly useful in American schools-either in social-studies classes or in general assemblies on appropriate occasions. Users should remember that the film was made during the war and also that it is a British interpretation of the United States, although this latter fact, in the opinion of some members of the Committee, enhances rather than detracts from the appeal of the film. For grades 7-12, college, and adult audiences. War Came to America 16mm sound, b/w, 60 minutes, 1945. Produced by the U. S. Army Pictorial Service. Edited by American Film Services Inc., 1948. Not for sale. Rent from American Film Services Inc. or from 16mm film libraries. Film Summary Reviews briefly the history of the United States, emphasizing the people of many nations that formed "we the people"; describes the characteristics, habits, and beliefs of the American people; and with this background explains the events leading up to the United States entry into World War II. All of the major events from the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 to Pearl Harbor in 1941 are covered. The film shows how public opinion, as measured by the Gallup poll, changed during the 10 years, and makes the point that, while Americans hate war, they will fight to protect their freedoms. Committee Recommendation This is a shortened version of the Army film, War Comes to America, which was made in 1944-45 as an educational film for soldiers. It is a superbly produced historical record of the 1930's, containing many of the original pictures of the period and the speeches of President Roosevelt, Secretary of State Hull, and other public leaders, and should have widespread usefulness in history classes. Teachers should remember that the film presents a point of view held in 1945 and recognize that this point of view, particularly toward Russia and Japan, has changed since the film was made. As a matter of fact, teachers might well use the film to demonstrate how public opinion changes. The first part of the film, portraying the historical development and characteristics of the American people, can be used independently as a rather inspiring tribute to the American way of life. For grades 7-12, college, and adult audiences. War Comes to America 16mm sound, b/w, 67 minutes, 1945. Produced by the U. S. Army Pictorial Service. Released for civilian use through the U. S. Office of Education. Purchase from United World Films Inc., $77.41. Rent from some 16mm film libraries. Film Summary This is the full-length Army film from which War Came to America, described above, was made. See the film summary for War Came to America. Committee Recommendation See the committee recommendation for War Came to America. Wilson 16mm sound, color, 135 minutes, 1944. Produced by Twentieth CenturyFox Corporation. Not for sale. Rent from Films Inc. Film Summary "Sometimes the life of a man mirrors the life of a nation. . . . This is the story of America and the story of a man, Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States." Thus the foreword to this film synthesizes its theme and its content. Among the events portrayed in the film are Wilson as President of Princeton University and as Governor of New Jersey, the Democratic Convention of 1912 and the nomination of Wilson on the 46th ballot, Wilson family life in the White House, the death of Mrs. Wilson and the President's marriage to Mrs. Galt, the campaign of 1916, German warfare against American ships, the Declaration of War against Germany, the War and the 1918 Armistice, the President's enunciation of his 14 Points, his trip to Paris and triumphal reception there, the formation of the League of Nations, the President's return home to meet defeat in the Senate, his tour of the country to obtain popular support of his program, his illness and return to Washington, the election of Harding in 1920, and the decision of the United States not to become a member of the League of Nations. Committee Recommendation This feature-length motion picture is a superb historical portrayal of a crucial period in our history and of the beliefs and actions of President Wilson during that period. The film is especially valuable in the study of United States history, government and civics, and international relations. For grades 7-12, college, and adult audiences. Winning Our Independence 16mm sound, b/w, 37 minutes, 1948. Excerpted by Teaching Film .Custodians Inc. in collaboration with the Audio-Visual Committee of the National Council of the Social Studies from the feature picture, The Howards of Virginia, originally produced in 1940 by Columbia Pictures Corp. Lease from Teaching Film Custodians Inc., $120. Rent from film libraries of educational institutions. Film Summary Portrays Matthew Howard (played by Cary Grant) and his wife in their home at Albemarle, Va.; Howard's discussions with Thomas Jefferson leading to Howard's election to the House of Burgesses: his siding with the liberals; Patrick Henry's speech, "If this be treason. make the most of it"; the dissolution of the House of Burgesses by the Royal Governor; establishment of the Committee of Correspondence; the Boston Tea Party; Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death" speech; Howard's joining the Continental Army; Jefferson rebuking the conservatives for their lack of faith in democracy; and the victory of the Continental Army. Committee Recommendation This is a skillful condensation of the theatrical film The Howards of Virginia which preserves the story and dramatic quality of the longer picture, yet accents the crucial issues in the War for Independence and the demo cratic concepts of such men as Thomas Jefferson. For grades 6-12, college, and adult audiences. Law and Justice English Criminal Justice 16mm sound, b/w, 22 minutes, 1947. Produced by British Information Services. Purchase from BIS, $47.50. Rent from 16mm film libraries. Film Summary Explains the principles of English justice and illustrates their application in the procedures of two courts one handling a petty misdemeanor; the other. Old Bailey, trying a murder case. The film stresses such principles as the right of trial by jury, presumption of innocence until proved guilty, impartiality of the judge, right of the accused to counsel, and hearings in an open court. Committee Recommendation Astraightforward, nontechnical explanation of democratic principles of law and justice, this film is interesting to all types of audiences. While it deals with English jurisprudence, the democratic principles it portrays are a basic part of American life. For grades 7-12, college, and adult audiences. mended by the Institute of Adult Education The Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence Recom 16mm sound, color, 19 minutes, 1938. Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. Lease from Teaching Film Custodians Inc., $120. from film libraries of educational institutions. Film Summary Dramatizes events of the Second Continental Congress, including Lee's motion for independence, Jefferson's drafting of the Declaration of Independence with the help of Adams and Franklin, the debate in Congress, Rodney's ride from Delaware in order to cast the deciding vote, and the signing of the Declaration by Hancock and Franklin. Committee Recommendation While this film is somewhat romanticized and the Rodney incident overdramatized, it can be profitably used, particularly in lower grades, as motivation to further study of the Declaration of Independence. For grades 5-12. Our Declaration of Independence 16mm sound, b/w, 20 minutes, 1940. Produced by Academic Film Co. Purchase from Post Pictures Corp., $90. Rent from 16mm film libraries. Film Summary Historical dramatization of the reasons for and the events leading up to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Through a series of discussions by Revolutionary leaders, the effect of the Stamp Act, Quartering Act, Boston Tea Party, abolition of the Virginia House of Burgesses, and other events are explained and related to the First and Second Continental Congresses and to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Hancock, Henry, and Lee are portrayed in the film. Committee Recommendation This film consists primarily of conversations and while some people, particularly younger students, may find the lack of action dull, there is real drama in hearing once again the beliefs of our Revolutionary leaders. For grades 10-12 and college students. The Constitution Our Constitution 16mm sound, b/w, 20 minutes, 1940. Produced by Academic Film Co. Purchase from Post Pictures Corp., $90. Rent from 16 mm film libraries. Film Summary Historical reenactment of the reasons for and the drafting of the Constitution. Reviews the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger national government, and dramatizes the beliefs and actions at the Constitutional Convention of such leaders as Washington, Franklin, Hamilton, Madison, Morris, and Randolph. Closes with Washington beginning his first inaugural address. Committee Recommendation Although this film consists of conversations and may seem dull to some students, the characters' speeches which are taken almost verbatim from the original letters and speeches of Washington, Franklin, etc., have a dramatic quality that makes the film interesting as well as instructive. Its primary usefulness is, of course, in American history and government classes as background to the study of the Constitution. For grades 10-12 and college students. Our National Government Produced by Knowledge Builders. 16mm sound, b/w, 10 minutes, 1941. Purchase from Knowledge Builders, $40. film libraries. Film Summary Reviews briefly the drafting of the Constitution in 1787 and attributes its provisions to four influencial factors: (a) English traditions, (b) the Colonial charters, (c) the various State constitutions, and (d) political philosophies of the time, particularly those of Montesquie. Explains that the system of checks and balances in the Federal Government was deliberate, and describes some of these checks and balances in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the Government. |