Cinécraft Productions presents Flashback Friday - Episode #49

Cinecraft Flashback Friday Episode #49,
Title; Unto The Least of These,
Client: Family Services (1948 revised) Originally produced 1941.
This is Cinecraft Flashback is a clip from a 20 minute, color film was originally produced in 1941 and premiered in 1942. It was revised a few times, lastly in 1948.
Unto the Least of These tells the dramatized stories of an unwed mother who finds hope, an orphan who gets saved from the streets, and a small family on the ropes with an alcoholic father who gets their lives straightened out. The film has a melodrama tone with a solo organ musical score. Recording synchronized sound on 16mm was a technical challenge in 1941 so this film uses only a voice-over narrator.
The client Family Services became an umbrella organization for the; Foster Care Bureau, Adoption Service Bureau, Alice Hunt Center, National Guidance Bureau, and the Children's Clinic. Ultimately the film ends with an appeal for support and to encourage couples to become foster parents.
This is an actor driven film. And it wasn't hard to find local acting talent and musicians for Cinecraft movies. The Cleveland Play House was the studio's most significant source of acting and directing talent.
The film was directed by K. Elmo Lowe, actor, and director of the Cleveland Play House. Lowe was a part-time director at Cinecraft. Lowe also plays the alcoholic father in one of dramatizations. His real life wife, Dorothy Paxton, plays the role of his wife in the film.
One of the child actors in the film turned out to have an amazing career. Joel Grey.
Joel Grey (born Joel David Katz), was a 7 year old member of the Play House Current Pullers when he played a street orphan in this film.
He is best known for portraying the Master of Ceremonies in both the stage and film versions of the musical Cabaret. He has won an Academy Award, Tony Award, and Golden Globe Award. He also originated the role of George M. Cohan in the musical George M! in 1973, and the Wizard of Oz in the musical Wicked.
Joel is the father of actress Jennifer Grey and just turned 89 years young.
Unto The Least of These premiered at the Cleveland Play House on September 30, 1942 and was shown again in New York and Hollywood.
To see the the full 20 minute 1948 version of the film; • Cinécraft Productions ...
-Neil McCormick