The Washington times., 1914-11-20
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
Educational Value in
EOery Type Of
The Film
Dramas.


that was presented here several days
ago regarding the educational value
OF the motion picture in bringing
the great mass of the people to a
true realization OF the drama, there
is another phase OF the informative
side of the business which must be
considered. 1t has great Importance
In the general consideration of the
educational value of the pictured
play in its broadest sense. Aside
from the vast amount of informa-
ton that is to be gained from the
travel or scenic pictures not only
about odd corners of the world, but
ordinary sights in foreign cities;
aside also from the intelligent ideas
of cities and important centers in
our own country that are given in
the news films; there is a wonderful
opportunity for educating the
people In the ordinary drama which
me mouon picture producers can
utillze to great advantage. The Rev.
Father z. Boudinot Stockton. S. T.
b., who has written so much enter
tanning and instructive matter re-
saroing the pictures, recently made
an address before a club devoted to
motion picture subjects in which he
discussed this question. He referred
10 the educational picture. pure and
simple, the pictures OF birds and ami
mais, and laboratory work, and to
the ordinary thriller Between these
lies multitude of pictures in many
or which lies an educational value.
Let us take the case Of a real
thriller, say The Villain Is DOOM
60. is its title states Father
Stockton.
The advertisement describes il as
a highly exciting melodrama, of in
uenee Dramatic thrill and OF great
inclined to smile. But think a mo-
ment; Even straight melodrama
may have an educational value. The
old Idea that education meant stuff
nng man with all sorts Of informa-
uon was exploded long ago. The
succeeding, opposite idea that educa-
uon was simply getting out of a
man what there was in him has also
met similar fate. Nowadays, the
majority of educators hold that ST.
Paufs idea is correct. Man has a
body, soul. and spirit. He feels;
he thinks; he wills. Education
means training q man to feel, think
Inc picture We are watching is a
straight melodrama- But virtue is
rewarded and villsiny punished. We
Ieel better. That is as II should be.
The hero or the heroine pass through
all kinds Of hardships and trials and
come out of them a better and
nobler man or woman. We not only
feel better. but we see that the trials
and hardships were what taught
them their lesson or made them bet
ter and stronger. We have done
some thinking. and done It, too,
along the right lines. The picture
has heart interest and punch that
tate the Characters we have seen.
We make UP our minds we are going
out and become heroes and heroines
ourselves. We have done some will
ing. and done II. too, to some good
purpose. For the moment We have
been lifted out of the old rut and
been given vision OF the higher
10 which We have been raised.
Whether We stay on the new plane
or not depends on other things than
the photoplay. Its mission is done.
il has put US there: II educated us
out of the old into the new and bet
II is the thing that has accomplished
this
Again. The Villain Doomed
turns out to be not a straight melo-
drama. but a travesty on the old
tank drama. II IS full OF caustic wit
and satire and genuine humor At
first We watch il, slightly puzzled,
view; but from then on We watch 1t
laughing or chuckling or silently
amused, according TO our DISPOSE
tons, until the picture is out. Here
We have the same educational ele-
ment as before; but IL is Of higher
degree or order. There is the same
exercise OF the feelings. the reason
ra1 ha will s,a 10 -serk,@
but IL is more subtle in its working.
We did our thinking and willing
first, and than sat down to enjoy
ourselves. At the start we had to
know more, We had to think harder,
and We had to decide not an objec-
tive action, but a subjective idea
In order to appreciate the point OF
the story we had to know about the
tank drama, we had to analyZe ii
and criticise 1t, and then make up
our minds that there was a funny
side TO il. Then we sat back and
gave ourselves up to the enjoyment
OF that way Of looking at IL The
educational element was there. II
appealed in the same way. Put it
appealed to a more educated spec
tator. a more developed intelligence,
a keener sense of feeling, a better
trained will
THE same is true OF every form
OF photoplay. In all OF them there
is the same appeal 10 the funda-
mental powers and capa cities that
every mar has. and this appeal Is
educational just in 80 far as Il calls
those powers and capacities to eXer-
else themselves in the right way.
The educational element in a photo
play is its appeal TO a mans better
self; and its educational value is in
proportion TO the way in which ii
makes a man enjoy better, think
more highly OF and make up his
mind to hang on 70 and get after
Whatsoever things are true. what
soever things are honest. whatSo-
ever things are just. whatsoever
things are pure. whatsoever things
are lovely. whatsoever things are Of
good report" In other words. every
photoplay that irnpresses on a man
the value and importance Of the
good. the true, the beautiful. and
makes him want to get up end go
after and obtain them. has an edu-
Cstional value: and the element or
factor that gives il that value is the
"a ctor or element that does these