This film is part of Free
American Fisheries; England's Tithe War
Weeding out cheats and standing up for the little guy: the news magazine that took a stance.
Overview
After only two years of operation, March of Time was recognised with an honorary Academy Award for its role in rejuvenating the staid newsreel genre. This edition offers three typical examples of the series' pioneering style of journalism; presenting choppy, fast-moving visual sequences to give drama to topical talking points on both sides of the Atlantic.
Whether it was covering punitive tithe laws in rural Britain, or the hardship faced by New England's fishermen, March of Time revolutionised newsreel reportage by finding great untold stories. The middle item in this broadcast comprises something of an undercover investigation, following the agencies who curtail cheating in American horseracing. Although March of Time depended heavily on library footage, and many of the on-screen personalities were little more than paid actors delivering lines, the films were, above all, designed to reflect the drama of contemporary events.
