The Washington times., 1914-07-23
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
/. WASHINGTON
Music Needs of the
Pictures Should
Be Given More
Attention


city would appreciate tho efforts Of
an exhibitor who will eliminate the
concert from his program and utilize
his musical talent to enhance the
spell cast by the pictures.
There have been more good pic
lures spoiled by poorly selected mu-
sic than any other way. The diff
hioitors seem to realize the import
ance Of the music to the projection
of the pictures story In the spec
tator's mind. That's a bit of pro-
lection to which too little attention
10 being paid. and II 10 the most i'm
portant part OF showing pictures One
Of tho great appeals OF the screen to
the average mind 10 the fact that 1t
calls for the exercise Of the imagina-
ton. The picture goes into great de-
tail, but the Imagination must come
into play to supply the dialogue. The
pictures are called silent draman"
As matter OF fact, they are not
silent drama at all. They are most
eioquent-if the acting IL worth any
the spectator a desire to supply the
missing words. and he does this, I'M
consciously. Of course, but neverthe-
less he does 1t.
And the playing of irrelevant
music by strong-armed pianist. as
sisted by an equally muscular drum
mer. breaks into the emotion that
the picture inspires with q crash
and bang that does not tend to pre-
serve the spectators temper. Almost
the same effect is had by an orches-
ira that Ia attempting to accom-
pany the pictures. AS matter Of
fact, 1t IL a very difficult thing for
more than one musician to properly
accompany the Keeling Of a film
story. The reason for this IL sim
pie. The story calls for unsteady
expressed emotions Of varying in
tensity. This means that the ca
dences Of the music must be drawn
out here or held in there. When a
company Of musicians endeavors to
play q selection It IL necessary that
the intervals Of time should be alb
solute for all OF them. And IL il also
necessary that each musician should
adhere strictly to those intervals as
marked on the music. The result IL
that the orchestra might play the
music perfectly and the music be of
q character well adapted to the
screen story that IL being unfolded.
and yet the .orchestr1-JaHd = the
screen be distinctly separate produc-
ttonA You see.t one s-muHcfan can
slow down or quicken his time: can
sharp to Mt the situation-whereas
such q condition fs impossible for a
company OF musicians.
II In, therefore, better to have q
single musician who In capable OF
understanding the pictures, than an
orchestra, 81 the pictures are to have
the musical Interpretation they de-
rnand. This being understood 1t will
theaters that show fine pictures and
have capable pianists do not get
on The pianist plays his music
instead OF the pictures. The pic
lures are the show-not the music.
II IN a little difficult to understand
a state Of mind that can provide
Too Much Mustard Taccompani-
ment for scene whe re-. the a heroine re
starve. And it IL quite as diff
cult to understand the playing of
the soldiers chorus from Faust"
during an eruption of the police
forcc comedy" which practically.
all the producers seem to think Is
absolutely essential for the produc-
ton Of laughs nowadays. Yet both
Of these things have been observed
in Washington thoaters.
II would seem that the pianist
who accomplished the presentation
of these selections creditably might
also have had intelligence enough
he didn't. Hence this general COM
plant, for there Is q general com
T,lairt. The needs OF the picture
arc best served by the intelligent
application of muSc or no music
st all. Music can lift a poor pic
ture way above its real place In the
realm Of photoplays-and II can ruin
the very best picture ever unreeied.