Overseas Movies

Soldiers overseas do not like war or propaganda pictures, according to a recent report by Major John W. Hubbell '21, officer in charge of the motion picture section, Special Services Division of the U. S. Army. Musical and girl shows are first preference of the men, Major Hubbell said, with comedies second. "Stage Door Canteen," which was shown to 30,000 service men overseas before it opened in U. S. theatres, led all pictures in popularity during August. "Air Force," the only film with a complete military background that ranked high in popularity, was second. During July, the Army put on 30,983 motion picture shows, playing to an attendance of 13,550,000. Major Hubbell estimated that 500,000 men and women in military service are seeing pictures every night all over the world. Many get "dressed up" to go to the theatres, which is a great boost to their morale. Attendance at the shows, depending on the size of the camp, locality and other factors, ranges from 75 to 400, although as many as 3,300 have witnessed films at one time. Theatres have been set up only 18 miles behind front lines in many spots, Major Hubbell said, and they always play to capacity. The shows are all free and the 16mm prints are loaned to the Army by the industry. By the end of the year, the Army expects to have put on 50,000 or 60,000 shows.