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The Cinema: The Director's Job (BBC Radio, 24/Jan/1938)

"The Cinema" was a multi-part radio series looking at all aspects of cinema and film, featuring input from Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Balcon, Angus MacPhail and John Grierson.

According to Variety, the series consisted of four talks[1], whereas local British newspapers gave details of six episodes:

How a "movie" is made will be discussed by Victor Saville and Captain the Hon. Richard Norton. The directors' point of view will be given by Alfred Hitchcock. A star will tell of the actors' standpoint, while Gerald Sanger, editor of British Movietone News, will deal with newsreels. John Grierson, who was responsible for the B.B.C.'s film, "The Voice of Britain," will speak on documentaries, and the problem of "Running the Cinema" will be discussed by Kenneth Nyman, Vice-President of the Cinema Exhibitors' Association, who is also a cinema-owner.
—Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette (14/Dec/1937)

In actual fact there were 12 episodes in total. The BBC Radio Times archive includes the following broadcast details:

  1. "The Audience" (10/Jan/1938)[2] — Herbert Hodge and others
  2. "How Films are Made" (17/Jan/1938)[3] — Michael Balcon and Richard Norton
  3. "The Director's Job" (24/Jan/1938)[4] — Alfred Hitchcock
  4. "The Actor's Job" (31/Jan/1938)[5] — Raymond Massey
  5. "Stories for Films" (07/Feb/1938)[6] — Angus MacPhail and Herbert Hodge
  6. "News Reels" (14/Feb/1938)[7] — Gerald Sanger
  7. "The Documentary Film" (21/Feb/1938)[8] — John Grierson and H. Hodge
  8. "The Structure of the Industry" (28/Feb/1938)[9] — Simon Rowson
  9. "Running a Cinema" (07/Mar/1938)[10] — Kenneth A. Nyman
  10. "The Film in Education" (14/Mar/1938)[11] — Bruce Woolfe and A.C. Cameron
  11. "Censorship" (21/Mar/1938)[12] — Lord Tyrrell of Avon
  12. "Summing Up" (28/Mar/1938)[13] — Andrew Rice and Herbert Hodge

The Director's Job

The third episode in the series was presented by Alfred Hitchcock.

The third of the talks on The Cinema (National, 8) is to be given by Alfred Hitchcock, the producer, who will speak about his work. Hitchcock has become outstanding among producers by reason of such successes as Blackmail some years ago, and later The Thirty Nine Steps, Secret Agent and Sabotage.
 — Yorkshire Post (24/Jan/1938)

Broadcast Details

  • broadcast on BBC Radio (National 200 Kc/s. 1,500m.)
  • date: 24/Jan/1938 at 8pm
  • length: approx 30 minutes

Synopsis

Cinema-goers are becoming familiar with the names of directors and look out for the films made by those whose work they have learnt to enjoy. But what exactly is the director's job? Tonight listeners are to hear just what it is from one of the most distinguished British directors. Alfred Hitchcock made his name in the silent days with The Lodger, and has gone from success to success since the days of the talkies. Many listeners will have seen some of his earlier productions, among them Blackmail, Juno and the Paycock, and The Skin Game. In the last few years The Thirty-Nine Steps, Secret Agent, and Sabotage have shown the skill and maturity of his art. He has just finished a picture, probably to be called The Girl Was Young, starring Nova Pilbeam.[14]

Audio

  • It is highly unlikely any copies of the broadcast have survived.

Credits

Articles

Notes & References

  1. ↑ Variety (1938) - International Radio: About Time
  2. ↑ Project Genome: BBC Radio Times Archive
  3. ↑ Project Genome: BBC Radio Times Archive
  4. ↑ Project Genome: BBC Radio Times Archive
  5. ↑ Project Genome: BBC Radio Times Archive
  6. ↑ Project Genome: BBC Radio Times Archive
  7. ↑ Project Genome: BBC Radio Times Archive
  8. ↑ Project Genome: BBC Radio Times Archive
  9. ↑ Project Genome: BBC Radio Times Archive
  10. ↑ Project Genome: BBC Radio Times Archive
  11. ↑ Project Genome: BBC Radio Times Archive
  12. ↑ Project Genome: BBC Radio Times Archive
  13. ↑ Project Genome: BBC Radio Times Archive
  14. ↑ Project Genome: BBC Radio Times Archive
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