The Washington times., 1915-04-17
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
Circus, Not the Film,
Is the Place for Hair
Raising FedtS to
Be ShOUn

The progress OF the motion pic
ture from pure sensation-hair-rais
ing sensation--to legitimate drama
is one OF the things that has been
accomplished this year. There are
still many producers who insist on
the sensation---the play that Is
produced purely and solely for the
sensation. Ert the greater num-
her of men who can show big fig-
ures on the profit side of their
Icdgers during the past six
months have been those who, have
sought to get their thrills lcgiti-
mately-by the "OId Homestead"
methods and by The Still Alarm"
kind.
This school OF producers Is re-
ceiv.ng the support Of the right
think ng majority of the exhibitors
and of the men who are doing the
most to bring the motion picture to
the Plane where It belongs. Among
these is w. Stephen Bush. Of the
Moving Picture World, who has fire.
quently devoted his writings to an
exposition Of the falac.es of the pic.
ture trade. In the current issue OF
his periodical Mr.. Bush has this to
say about the sensational film:
The motion picture Is a silent
drama rather than a silent circus.
It Is able to summon to its aid all
the elements which make the circus
possible and successful. but its ulti-
mate design and destiny are much
higher. 1t is in the fed OF amuse-
ments the exponent Of the drama
rather than the imitator of the
circus. Its future lies along the
Ines Of the higher destiny. The
greatest success of the screen has
been in its dramatic work. The
screen as a purveyor Of real drama
has developed as no other art known
to mankind.
Herein lies the marvellous power
of the camera. The screen is capa-
bic of recording every sensation and
every idea with equal degrees Of
perfection. When | speak OF SEN
sation' | do not use the word as
the doctor uses 1t. speak OF 1t
as the newspaper man and the ex-
hibitor use It. Wonderful. indeed,
arc the achievements of the screen
in the recording of sensations. We
have seen volcanoes in destructive
eruption. We have secn storms at
sea and shipwrecks: terrible disas-
terS such as train collisions, fear
ful explosions, and. indeed, all
moving accidents by food and field.
There is no doubt whatever that
very large share OF the motion
pictures hold on public favor and
popularity Ia due to its spectacular
qualities. or course. no one was
quicker to realize this tremendous
advantage which the screen enjoys
over the stage than the producer
and exhibitor of motion pictures
The result was that we were and
still are treated to all kinds OF
sensations
with considerable percentage
Of producers the hunt after 'sensa.
tions became an obsession. Fol
some time. IL I remember rightly
various dare devils would make the
rounds of the studios offering tc
take a chance with their necks fol
the delectation OF the sensation
hunters. Surely We do not alto
gether blame the producers for theil
pursuit OF the sensational. Tht
masses like the sensational today
exactly as they liked 1t 1000 year!
ago when lcopards and tiger:
bounded in the arena.
1T is said that when the late Lin
coin Beachey went on his last figh
he looked about him and, seeing thu
gazing thousands. said: They hav,
all paid for chance to see m'
killed individually we may b'
ashamed to confess this instinc
which antedates the caveman. bu