The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-11
Actress Defends PhotopIay as
Form Of Amusement and the
Players Personally.
MORE benefit THAN EVIL
Distinguished Star Of Both
Stage and Screen De-
nounces Censorship.
By BERTHA KALICH.

The influence Of motion pictures
for good or evil is a subject that mas
been discussed so exhaustively that
nothing new remains to be said con-
corning It.
Usually the view OF the question
depends upon the standpoint of the
person expressing II. The player. OF
course, does not regard the matter
from the point OF view as the clergy
man, although II is fair to assume
that he has q better knowledge OF
II.
But this is not invarlable, for some
of the motion pictures most stall
wart and enthusiastic advocates are
representatives OF the church. who.
as men OF large intelligence and
broad sympathies, recognise the
power of the pictures os a civilizing
institution.
1t is very rare indeed nowadays
to find among the clergymen who
adhere to old standards, the narrow
and prejudiced views that obtained
half q century ago among their
brethren. The world has progressed
marvelously during these fifty years.
and ignorance. bigotry, and intellec-
in a great degree, by the resistless
forces of enlightenment and Gull
ture. Therefore any intellectual
leader today who processes TO believe
in the manifold errors of that time
can be regarded only as a relic Of
happily disappearing past.
Status of Pictures Assured.
In one sense It IL insulting to an
intelligent community to engage In
a controversial discussion OF the
morals of the ethics of motion pic
lures. because It implies that the
readers of newspapers in such a
community are ignorant. stupid and
electromagnetic the status of pic
lures is still an open question. So far
as my observation goes this Is not
the case.
II is true that the picture thcater
may be abused: that its influence.
in certain instances. may be misdi-
rected: that sometimes II NAV be
made to pander to vicious instincts.
institution? Is II not true of the
press, of books. OF pictures. of sculp-
ture, and even of the pulpit? Are
there not cases citable in the his
tory of religions where. under the
guise of truth. error. falsehood.
cruelty and pernicious ideas have
been promulgated to the injury of
mankind and the obstruction OF hu-
man progress?
The pictures are no better ana no
worse in their practical operations
than the people to whom they appeal
and upon whose support they must
rely. But in it's best aspects, and as
II is chiefly known to the Anglo
Saxon people. the picture theater 10
unquesionably power for GOOD.
The greatest literature OF all Ian
guages is designed for Interpretation
upon the screen. and II Is only when
Il is bodied forth usually that II
reaches its complete form and
achieves the purpose OF its creation
Has Great Possibilities.
The influence of pictures 10 sus-
ceptible OF a direction more refin-
ing, more impressive. more illumi-
mating and more stimulating to the
intellectual faculties than any other
form OF art, not excepting music,
painting, sculpture, or literature;
for, in a measure, II combines all
these in its combination of form.
color and action. 1t appeals to the
imagination; 1t stirs the heart; II