Cinema Sound
Diocesan Press Service. April 30, 1973 [73114]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Reviews of current films are now available to radio stations throughout the country, as a public service from the National Council of Churches. They are being done under the title CINEMA SOUND.
"Long overdue," according to Dr. William F. Fore, Executive Director of the Broadcasting and Film Commission of the National Council, "they are radio material that is needed locally. "
"People who do not live in or near large metropolitan areas," says Dr. Fore, "learn only about a few films -- and even then may not learn much about them, for secular reviews too often fall short of a thoughtful, responsible Christian approach to today's cinema. Our reviewer, Mr. Robert E.A. Lee of the Lutheran Council USA, who has both radio and film background, is just the right man to take up this slack. "
This new radio series, CINEMA SOUND, is a monthly package made available cooperatively through the National Council by the Lutheran Council and the Episcopal Church and it contains:
(a) four four-and-a-half minute reviews and/or
(b) four one-and-a-half minute reviews.
Both formats cover the same films, with the shorter reviews being different from and not just capsule versions of the longer commentaries. The two lengths allow stations a wide range of use: in local news programs, between programs or at station breaks, on disc jockey programs and personality talk shows or as "kickers " for conversation on phone-in shows.
"Good films -- and there are many these days -- mirror to us the human condition in such a way that our experience of living is enlarged, " declares Lee. "Name your theme -- survival, celebration, alienation, love, sin, loyalty -- and you can likely find a film to help you explore it. "
Since its inception in January 1973, Bob Lee has included in the CINEMA SOUND reviews such films as: "THE EMIGRANTS," "JEREMIAH JOHNSON," "CRIES AND WHISPERS," "THE HEARTBREAK KID," "CHARLOTTE'S WEB" among others. Lee and Fore stress that a variety of films will be covered in the review series -- not just the major art films and big productions -- since the purpose is to reach a broad spectrum of the American public with needed substantive analysis of many films.
Local church and community interest expressed to the stations is expected to aid in gaining commitments for broadcast use.
Anyone interested in learning more about CINEMA SOUND can contact Miss Lillian Bennett, Traffic Manager, Broadcasting and Film Commission, National Council of Churches, 475 Riverside Drive, Rm 852, New York, N.Y. 10027.