The Washington times., 1914-04-06
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
of Christianity
Shown in the Holy
Week Programs
Of Films

he p.lOlOpldy Is uOlnS SOME
thing this week that should
forever silence the so-called
religious arguments brought
against 1t.
The photoplay is visualizing the
story of Jesus Christ, and in thus
placing 1t before the people it is per-
forming an Office that no reading of
the story as contained in the Bible
could do. 1t is showing the beauty,
the pathos, the grandeur, the ex-
ouisite holiness of the life of the
Saviour as 1t is totally impossible
for any sermon or any form of still
pictures to do. 1t is putting before
the people a real Man, It is showing
them a living, moving Being. 1t
brings out an Actual Presence.
There is little excuse for anyone
IN Washington failing to see these
beautiful pictures. whether he is re-
ligiously inclined or not. At the Be-
lasco Theater they will be exhibited
throughout the week, and at the
Palace Theater from Wednesday on
until and including Easter Monday.
The two sets of pictures are diffe rent
they were made by two different
manufacturing concerns. Both are
interesting. both are instructive, and
a person who has seen one should
really go to see the other also. The
pictures at the Belasco are the work
of Pathe Freres, the great French
firm which owns what is probably
the largest photoplay establishment
in the world. The pictures were
made where Christ lived, and where
He taught the lessons that have
formed the basis OF the greatest re-
ligious sect in the world.
The very finest actors in Europe
were engaged by the Pathes to take
the principal parts, and no expense
was spared to make the scenes as
nearly like those OF the time of
Christ as is possible. Through the
kindly cooperation Of the Turkish
and French governments and the au-
shorities Of the Greek Church in
Jerusalem, every opportunity was
given the picture men to make the
best Of their opportunities. The
views they have obtained are more
wonderful in many respects than
anything this great firm has under
taken before.
The management OF the Belasco
has engaged the services Of the
Rev. A. H. Zimmerman to explain
the pictures and to give little talk
each afternoon and evening on the
life of Christ A special program OF
incidental music has been prepared
End the words of many of the grand
old hymns of tie Christian church
will be thrown en- the screen at the
end of each OF the seven reels SO
that the entire audience may sing.
At the Palace Thea;er the famous
pictures will be shown under the
title of From Manger to Cross"
these pictures were made more
ttan year ago by an American
company which visited Jerusalem.
Bethlehem and the other places
mentioned in the Bible story. II
the French film Is q great one. the
American production is even great
er. The assistance OF the govern
nent and the church as well as the
people was of great value to the
Ralen actors and caIneramen. They
we're able to obtain views that had
never been photographed before and
they spent months in getting all OF
TIE scenes that were used in the
pictures.
No church or no religious insti-
tuition could exhibit or demand
more reverent spirit than was
stcwn by the actors and actresses
who made these films. Nothing
that has yet Leen Gone has en-
phasized the enormous value Of the
pkotoplay as have these pictures.
The simple story OF the Passion
Play, which has drawn thousands OF
religious enthusiasts to Oberammer-
gau, Germany, once every decade.
ie shown a thousandfold more vivid
Iy in the photoplay. The story they
tell Of the life CT Christ is without
a parallel either in the church as
IL Is today or as II ever has been.
To those who have never seen
motion pictures, who have been kept
from them through mis-
taken spirit IF disapproyaL the
pictures at the Belasco and
Ialsce Theaters this week should be
Il revelation. In no ether way can
q more striking idea Of religious
history be obtained. Nothing could
DE moro In keeping with the sanctl-
ty and holy spirit Of the week be-
fore Easter Chan these pictures.
They are not only an education and
an inspiration-they breathe the
spirit of Christianity as very few
church services do, they make
Christ a reality and His life an
actual fact is nothing that could
Be written about II does. G. M.