The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-07-26
Prof. Giddings, Of Columbia,
Declares Unfit Films viii
Eliminate Themselves.
SCORES THE SEX DRAMAS
SocioIogist Believes People viii
Not Tolerate Sensation in
Place Of Art.

Motion picturs. having passed the
stage where they might be con-
sidered curiosities. have reached a
settling down process and the un-
At are being rapidly weeded from
the AT to such an extent that the
man who goes in for making mo-
ton pictures nowadays must make
them as clean and as wholesome
In theme and action as the aver
age newspaper.
This is the gist of an opinion ex-
pressed by Prof. franklin II. Cid
d ddn|Ens,J head a. Of the depart dsPartmsnt q
ization of Columbia University.
who has lately made a rather ex-
haustive study Of motion pictures
and their general effect.
Prof. Giddings was asked to
situation in motion pictures by the
Paramount Company with a view of
adopting his views In the campaign
the Paramount Company In carry
ing on for cleaner and better pic
lures. This campaign is unique in
motion picture production and II Is
very likely that it's essential fea-
lures Will become permanent In
stitution.
The most unusual feature OF the
cisms that are passed upon every
picture that is issued from the Par
amount distributing centers. Each
exhibitor is furnished with a card
and he Is asked to give his honest
opinion on each picture that is ex-
hibited at his house. This opinion
must be based on the comments he
hears from his patrons.
COmpels Criticism of Films.
The exhibitor Is really compelled
to furnish this criticism as 1t forms
part of his contract with the
Paramount offices that he shall do
SO. For some months past the sys-
tenn has been In vogue. A uniform
card Is sent out with each picture
and uniform series Of markings is
1t was In line with this work that
Prof. Giddings was asked to inves-
tigate pictures and as a sociologist
tell exactly what he thought Of
them and their future.
The sex appeal in books and up
on the stage has always been at
tractive to certain publishers and
motion picture producers, short
sighted enough to believe in quick,
rather than continuous, profits"
Prof. Giddings states.
The motion picture industry Is,
l understand. becoming glutted
with pictures Of an extremely sem
sational nature. The producers OF
these make the mistake OF think
ing that immortality devoid OF dra-
Ignorant of the art of the drama
they attempt to create their big
sensations by the luridness of the
subject matter.
Public Wants Clean Plays.
After all the play is the thing. OF
course the incompetents are not 20
be expected to see the handwriting
on the wall. The American public
does not want immoral pictures. Nor
Is II PurltGnical enough to protest
against such theme as that OF
Carmen or La Boheme.'
What the public does insist upon,
however, Is that unusual situations be
handled .istically and not with amy
tampering of immortality that might
create approval from a few. The ma
tional conscience has been demandinS
fol sor .l.rc that the screen shall
be at least as clean as the columns
of well edited newspaper"
The Enlen Company has instituted
new idea by Insisting that In the
future all scenes supposed to be At
night shall be taken at night. The
idea Is that films made that are
tinted blue to represent night ef-
fects do rot really obtain the de-
gree OF faithf,ilness to detail de-
sired by the executive heads OF the
Eacm forces.
Pictures have recently been made
at night with the aid OF flares and
regular studio light equipment that
give much better results. In the opin-
ion of the Kalem directors. The re-
result OF the orders that have been
sent out will be watched with in
tcraSt.