The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-25

Shadow" and my announcement that
was to produce The False Faces
and 'vive Ia France II has been sug-
gested that there was danger of the
producer overriding the war stuff
that the people would grow tired Of II.
"Now I am quite willing to concede
that they will grow weary OF material
that Is Of the wrong sort. For ex-
ample. they do not care to see carnage
and horrors, but every one Is vitality
interested-almost 10 the exclusion Of
anything eise-in pictures which have
the war either as a background for a
charming love story or In which there
IL some unusual phase or incident that
forms the nucleus for the plot.
For example. take my own picture.
The Claws Of the Hun which I am
glad to say was very well received
indeed, was Intended to inspire in
parents who might be willing to let
other parents sons 20 to fight bat tried
to hold back their own. the true spirit
Of patriotism. service and sacrifice.
Tho Kaiser's Shadow sought to ex-
pose the Hun espionage systems in
America and thereby spread an Amer
lean propaganda that would oppose
and onset the insidious German propa-
ganda 30 largely exploited in this
country In the early days Of the strug-
gle. The False Faces also deals
largely with spy work in America,
while 'Vive In France Is a tribute to
the French women. to their bravery.
indomitable will and splendid spirit Of
sacrifice. !
IT believe these are the kind Of pie
lures the public wants to-day-so far
as war pictures are concerned. Also
they like the comedies and comedy
dramas. the uplifting. cheerful. breezy
pictures.
1T am reminded OF the analogy be-
tween the picture and the popular
song. Back In civil war days the songs
that got over were those with patriotic
words and marching time usually.
There are some exceptions Of course.
In the days of the Spanish American
war We all sang and whistled Break
the News to Mother or Gust as the
Sun Went Down or The Blue and the
Gray'-didn't We? In this present war
we are inspired to the tune Of Over
There and, it, hardly less spirited
words. Many times the songs grow
maudlin, arc uninspired. There II no
need for our pictures to become So
But simple patriotism and the spirit
Of victory. the love Of country and
bravery In the face Of the foe. these
are the elements that appeal in war
times: war. remember Is an elemental
thing. How many read the scient ific
prophecies regarding the battles as
compared with those who devour the
simple worded dispatches? Who to-
day cares the tiny Standardization Of
q tinker's tiddlewink about the psy-
chology Of the eternal triangle as COM
pared with the true love and faith and
purpose. inhexiblc and determined. in
the face Of q mighty opposing force?
War levels ranks Just as love Is said
to do. And It develops the love Of the
simpler things IN the hearts Of the
people-people behind the lines at
home a. well as those in the trenches.
One may we'll imagine that the return
ing soldier from France finds nothing
sweeter or nner than the sunshine
across q green field or the trickle Of a
brook over the rounded pebbles. II he
wants amusement he sees something
light and cheerful or something In
which, sincerity II the keynote. He
cares nothing for the subtle phychol-
ogy Of the neoplatonists or the tragic
conceptions Of the exotic novelists:
the straightforward love Of man for
! woman; the bravery that IL not lost In
e maze Of conjectures over hereditary
causes and effects of situation. &c.
| Tho folks at homo are in much the
same case. They want war pictures
| am satisfied Of that-but they also
want war pictures that are done with
clear. clean strokes, robbed Of needless
horror: they want things they can I'M
derstand and with which they can
sympathixe.
I'm song we rise to the simple purity
and grandeur Of The Star Spangled
Banner We would probably do 20
even were It not a requirement Of pa
triotic custom. Or we thrill with the
ringing chorus Of over There. The