The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-10-27
WHERE ARE MY CHILDREN"
AT BUNGALOW THEATRE

The beginning of Where Are My
Children? is excellent propaganda
for disseminating knowledge on birth
control. 1t picturizes some rather
vivid arguments that could be used to
great advantage by the people who
are in favor of making it legal, instead
of against the law, to spread informa-
ton concerning the methods of regu-
lating childbirth. The Universal COM
pany. which made the production,
maintains in an Introductory reader
that since the Margaret Sanger case
the question has been discussed in
the daily prints, and there is then, no
reason why it should not be presented
in motion picture as WELL
On the whole, the production IS
bound to compel interest 1t may
contain the story that is not unique,
but as the audience looks at it from
an entirely different angle it has a
thick cloak of newness thrown over
it, and the sociological problem that
it presents is especially fresh in the
minds of the public at the present
time 1t is treated with as much
delicacy as possible in putting on a
topic of this kind; and only those who
are ultra-exacting could find anything
at which to complain.
The main part of the presentation
of the argument starts with a radical
physician on trial for circulating lit
erature concerning birth control. He
is convicted by a jury of sending out
obscene literature. BY flash backs
the results of allowing unwanted
children to come into the world is
shown-the miseries that visit the
families and more often the babies
| them selves. Then it jumps to a diff
ferent angle and the results of illegal
operations performed bv unscrunulous
doctors are effectively portrayed. The
moral is presented from both sides
the married and unmarried. Evident.
ly the idea of the picture is to hold nc
for comparison whether it would BIZ
better to generally inform The woman
of the world how to limit childbirth
without disastrous methods or TO have
them, (the ones who can afford ~
go to some doctor who is breaking
the law with everv operation and al
the same time risking the life of :
patient. Tn the film the answer i.
obvious.
But some of the force of the argu
ment is diluted by throwing all the
sympathy toward the district attor
ney. who calls his wife a murderes,
because he finds out she has visited
the INSCRIPTIONS doctor and has un
dergone three different operations u
his accusation hc asks: "Whcre ar,
nv children?" This incident. couplet
With few minor ones. robs the pla,
of strength to some extent. as /
shows that he really is not in favo
Of birth control when 1t comes to
personal matter And the scenes tina
show the morta1s of eternity and tn,
place where the souls Of unborn chill
dren lack the necessary impressive
ness.
In directing the picture. Lois Wcbc
has achieved fine piece Of work
The scenes follow in logical success
sion which is absolutely necessary il
a piece of this type and the corrcc
speed is maintained throughout. Tn,
outdoor scenes are extremely pic
turesque and the interiors are adr
quate. Miss Weber has fine con
ception as to the proper manner /,
which to lay problem Of this kim
before the public, and she has ac
'complished the present incident $,