A survey of the production of religious motion pictures

135 Pages·06.713 MB·English

by  Nichols, Ralph Marion

A SURVEY OF THE PRODUCTION
OF RELIGIOUS MOTION PICTURES
A Thesis
Presented to
the Faculty of the Department of Cinema
University of Southern California
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Master of Arts
by
Ralph Marion Nichols
June 1950
UMI Number: EP42691
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This thesis, ‘written by
Ms
RALPH M. NICHOLS
under the guidance of A~i&~ Faculty Committee,
and approved by all its members, has been
presented to and accepted by the Council on
Graduate Study and Research in partial fulfill­
ment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF ARTS
JUNE 1950
Date.
Faculty Committee
Chairman
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED . . 1
The problem .............................. 1
Statement of the problem............. . 1
Importance of the study . . . . . . . . 1
Definitions of terms used ............... 2
Religious .............. 2
Organization of thesis ................... 3
II. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT ..................... 4
III. METHOD OF PROCEDURE AND SOURCES OF DATA . . . 7
IV. CONCEPTION .......... 14
The organization . . . . . . ............. 15
The story ............................ 20
V. PURPOSE OF THE PRODUCTION . ............... 22
Evaluation ............ 22
Determination of success or failure . . . . 23
Distribution......................... 27
Distribution by public libraries ........ 29
Television................................ 30
VI. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS... 32
Summary . . ........................... . 32
Conclusions ......................... 33
BIBLIOGRAPHY...................................... 35
ii
CHAPTER PAGE
APPENDIX A. A Condensed Guide to Religious Motion
Pictures .......... 37
APPENDIX B. Addresses of Producers and Distributors
of Religious Motion Pictures Listed in Appendix A 124
i
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE PAGE
I. Tabulation of Survey Results Except for
Questions 8, 11 and 1 2 ............. 11
II. Type of Organization Engaged in the Pro­
duction of Religious Motion Pictures . . . . 17
III. Factors Mentioned by the Producer Deter­
mining Success or Failure of Pictures . . . 26
IV. Denominational Affiliations of Producers . . . 28
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE PAGE
1. Increase in Production of Religious Motion
Pictures . . . . . ............................ 12
2. Producers in Production ................. 13
CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED
There has been much discussion concerning the value
of religious motion pictures, and the many and varied
problems faced by the producer of such pictures during the
past decade. Up to this time there has been little compre­
hensive study of the situation prevailing concerning the
development of 16mm films for churches and little cor­
related material has been published with regard to the
religious films which have been produced.
I. THE PROBLEM
Statement of the problem. It was the purpose of
this survey (1) to show some of the practical problems that
must be faced by those people who are attempting to express
the truths of religion through the visual medium; (2) to
show the present trend in the production of religious
motion pictures; (3) to show the material available for
pastor, Sunday School worker or anyone else interested in
this medium of expression.
Importance of the study. Motion pictures are coming
more and more to the forefront in religious training. Hit
and miss use has been made of them, sometimes with very
remarkable results. Ever since motion pictures were in­
vented, they have been used as a social force. During the
early years of development several moral pictures were
produced. However, in the past decade the productions
have increased; so much so, that attempts have been made
to operate what might be called a "religious theater."
This is an attempt to bring as many of the films
together as is possible. The falling off of church atten­
dance and the increased interest in religious motion
pictures, coupled with the dawning era of television, are
factors worthy of consideration as playing a great part in
the future of the church. The producers of religious
motion pictures have been pioneers in their field, whose
principles and attitudes have been different from those
who have made pictures for entertainment alone. In this
study an attempt was made to approach the problem from
their point of view. The questions considered are vital
to those within the industry. Therefore, to anyone in the
business or to anyone interested in studying the business,
this report presents a picture of the present-day trend in
the production of religious motion pictures.
II. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED
Religious. Throughout the report of this survey the
term religious shall be interpreted as meaning that which
Has to do with man's relation to a Supreme Being, directly
or indirectly.
III. ORGANIZATION OF THESIS
This study sets forth, from the results of a ques­
tionnaire to all religious motion picture producers known
at the time to the writer, some of the problems which are
encountered. From this information and from other sources,
the historical development is traced, some of the problems
attendant to the conception of a film are set forth, and
the purpose of the religious production noted.