Religion - 6 DVD Box Set

Disc 1: Jewish Discrimination, Racism & Anti-Semitism Films (1940s - 1950s)

Brief Synopsis of DVD: For centuries and centuries throughout history, all races and religions have been hurt by racism and discrimination. One of the most compelling and unique racial histories belongs to the Jewish culture. In the name of increasing awareness of the history of Judaism and the struggles the Jews of the world have faced, we have put together a DVD compilation of some of the most rare films of history pertaining to the Jewish religion, Anti-Semitism, religious discrimination toward Judaism, national origin discrimination and racism in America. Diversity and tolerance are key to our survival, and so we extend this collection of video history in the hopes of spreading education and awareness about the history of racism. Most recent history about the Jewish culture, religion, people, history and beliefs system revolves around the Jewish Holocaust. We have found some terrific films touching on other important aspects of modern Jewish cultural history, including: Judaism, Jewish diversity and Antisemitism. The focus of this DVD is on Jewish racism, but discrimination of all races is covered.   

Title #1: American Girl Part I, II and III

Production Date:1958

Running Time: 28 minutes

Brief Description: An American girl pretends to be Jewish to see what happens and how she is treated. She quickly finds out how prevalent racism and anti-Semitism are in the United States.

Title #2: Don't Be A Sucker

Production Date: 1947

Running Time: 17 minutes

Brief Description: This film shows that the US governmental and cultural system will completely disintegrate if American people continue to embrace the ideals and practices of racism, prejudice, discrimination and intolerance. 

Title #3: Let Us Break Bread

Production Date: 1954

Running Time: 26 minutes

Brief Description: Let Us Break Bread is a stunning film series about the struggles of school administrators battling prejudice in mid-20th century America and how they encouraged the social acceptance of racial integration in American schools during the 50s and 60s.

Title #4: What About Prejudice?

Production Date:1959

Running Time: 11 minutes

Brief Description: A positive film looking toward the social benefits of keeping an open mind and embracing all cultures, regardless of color, religion or creed.  This film encourages teens to look within themselves, as opposed to listening to the racist teachings of society, to find the sources and reasons behind prejudice. 

Disc 2: World Religion & Evangelical Films (1930s - 1950s)

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This compellation is collection of some of the first evangelical and religious films used to persuade and convert.  Also very old and rare footage of the streets, daily life and temples of Jerusalem and Damascus in the 1930's are included. 

Title #1: Darkness Before Dawn

Production Date:1955

Running Time: 21 minutes

Brief Description: This bizarre social worker / religion film begins with the narrator telling us about a growing problem with juvenile delinquency in America amongst "The Forgot Ones," which we are told are youngsters with two working parents who are scared and confused because of the lack of parental guidance.  As the film continues it moves into discussing The pride of Judea summer camp which is proposed as a solution to these broken homed children to help give them some hope and direction.  The summer camp staff encourage children to not withdraw from life, but to care and love life with the help of faith. 

Title #2: Door To Heaven

Production Date: 1941

Running Time: 10 minutes

Brief Description: A Baptista (an old non-profit organization aimed at spreading the word of the gospel) produced film which discusses the many "doors to heaven," such as good works,  good character, church membership, and self-righteousness.  Full of readings from the Bible and the teachings of Jesus.  Film also claims only members of the true church (the body of Christ) will go to heaven.

Title #3: Gospel Dynamite

Production Date: 1930's

Running Time: 21 minutes

Brief Description: Another evangelical educational Baptista film that is straight to the point.  Scripture is read while simplistic animation is used to help illustrate certain points.  One of the first examples of religious persuasion being spread through films. 

Title #4: Middle East (Jerusalem) (amateur film)

Production Date:1933  

Running Time: 16 minutes

Brief Description: Rare glimpse into the streets of Jerusalem in 1933 full of street vendors cooking and selling food, hookah smoking, a bear on a leash (yes a large baby brown bear on a leash), praying and mourning, traveling on camels, temples and a great panoramic view of the city.

Title #5: Damascus

Production Date: 1936

Running Time: 10 minutes

Brief Description: The 300,000 Damascenes of the times of which 80% were Muslims are judged by an American narrator.  The absolutely racist and religiously insensitive narration makes the film a must watch.  Also has rare footage of Damascus from 1936.

Title #6: The Story of Selecting Kosher Meat Products For Their Stores

Production Date: 1930

Running Time: 10 minutes

Brief Description: Silent but fascinating film about why and how kosher meats are selected, marked, and processed. 

Disc 3: Palestinian Refugees Documentary: The Sands Of Sorrow (1950)

Brief Synopsis of DVD: The film is elegantly introduced and closed by Dorothy Thompson, who was a civil rights activist, journalist, and had just recently returned from an extended visit to the Middle East.  She stresses the importance of relief of which without the approximately one million refugees would otherwise die of starvation and disease.  This film was produced by the Council for Relief of Palestinian Arab Refugees and is the first to document Palestinian Refugees in the Middle East and marks the beginnings of a large scale American public concern for those marginalized by the religious and natural resource conflicts that, to this day, continue to haunt the Middle East.   Makeshift schools, workshops, hospitals, and kitchens in the Gaza strip are the focus of the footage of this film.  Footage of refugees living in ancient roman ruins is also shown despite the fact that these people refuse to allow close up shots to be taken because of religious beliefs.  The narrator refers to them as 20th century cave dwellers who lifestyle is barely fit for wildlife.  The films main goal is to show the suffering of these refugees to encourage increased donations by Americans who sympathize with their plight.  Oddly enough the reason why the refugees have been forced to flee there homes in not even addressed.  The efforts of the United Nations and its UNICEF branch to help these refugees are stressed.  The daily rations given to the refugees total 1400 calories per day, which is severely short of the 2000+ calories that are needed to sustain good health. 

Title #1: The Sands of Sorrow

Production Date: 1948

Running Time: 28 minutes

Brief Description:

Disc 4: Israel & Israeli History Films (1930s - 1950s)

Brief Synopsis of DVD: Incredible film and newsreel footage collection spanning from 1933 - 1957.  Includes footage of The Israeli - Egyptian War, Palestinian refugee camps, Israel in the 30s, and Israeli life and culture. 

Title #1: Five Newsreels

Production Date: 1955 - 1957

Running Time: 5 minutes

Brief Description: Variety of (5) newsreels with footage about Israel, including footage of Israel's war and entry into Egypt and a Tel Aviv protest. 

Title #2: Amateur Footage

Production Date: 1933

Running Time: 16 minutes

Brief Description: Rare film footage of Israel from the early 30's full of street scenes and landmarks, including the wailing wall. 

Title #3: Labor Of Thy Hands

Production Date: 1950

Running Time: 14 minutes

Brief Description: Sponsored by an America Zionist Women's Organization, this propaganda film aims to build support among Americans for Israel by showing all the similarities between the US and Israel.

Title #4: Sands Of Sorrow

Production Date: 1950

Running Time: 28 minutes

Brief Description: Produced by The Council for Relief of Palestinian Arab Refugees, an American organization, this film contains some of the first footage of Palestinian refugees and refugee camps in Israel & The Gaza Strip. 

Disc 5: Bible Scriptures & American Christianity Film (1941)

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This film looks at what the Bible and scriptures describe as, "the paths to heaven."  This film was produced by the defunct, CO Baptista Film's Scriptures Visualized Institute, who's aim was to spread the word of the gospel.

Title #1: The Door to Heaven

Production Date: 1941

Running Time: 10 minutes

Brief Description: This film discusses the many "doors to heaven," such as good works, good character, church membership, and self-righteousness. The film also claims that only members of the true church (the body of Christ) will go to heaven.

Disc 6: Zionism Film (1950s)

Brief Synopsis of DVD: Get a rare and interesting piece of Zionism history with this DVD edition of a vintage 1950s film reel called Labor of Thy Hands.

Title #1: Labor Of Thy Hands

Production Date: 1950s

Running Time: 10 minutes

Brief Description: Sponsored by an America Zionist Women's Organization, this propaganda film aims to build support among Americans for Israel by showing all the similarities between the U.S. and Israel.