New-York tribune., 1918-03-17
Bv H. F. Sherwood

A II has had an important oeai
ing on the number produced. Inc
number of reels Of photoplays mace
in 1917 was fewer by approximately
75o than in 1916, while the number Oh
subjects was cut down exactly l,ooo IN
number, the total last year being 3'lla.
The latter change in productlon' OF
course, is related in part to the gen
eral trend toward feature plays, aver
aging five reels in length. The aver
age of quality has risen. This also
is related to the war. Some OF the
Wall Street adventurers in motion
picture flyers have found their specu-
lative appetites fully satisfied by the
diet afforded at the stands on Broad
Street. 1t is from this socially ire
sponsible source that many Of the pct
ufes have proceeded whose production
has cast a. shadow on the film industry.
Physical force being no longer the
sole reliance Of belligercnts in obtain
ing victory, the motion picture has
been drawn into the struggle as one
OIL Cuc IueduS OA PAOSOSuCAA5 WIN "~~~'
This is the first war in which Edison's
wonderful invention has had an oppor-
tunity to contribute it's "bit." In the
effort to tap and draw quickly upon
the reserves Of every level of society
there has been a return to the priml-
tive form of munication-picture
writing-in the modernized form.
Would Have Forestalled
Russian Debacle
"Had motion pictures illustrating
the various phases of American life
been exhibited widely through Russia
from the beginning of the war in 1914,
it is probable that the present situa-
ton in Russia never would have oc-
Cured"
This is the judgment of Orrin G..
Cocks, advisory secretary of the Ma
tional Board of Review Of Motion Pict.
ures. This somewhat startling asscr-
ton, whether or not acceptable with
out reserve, like 6 spotlight throws
into the front of the stage the part
which the magic strip of picture film is
playing just at this time.
A company of bearded, loose bloused
men and kerchiefed women are. gath
cred in some crude (. ditorium I'm far
off Russia. Their eyes, held as by a
magnet, are turned upon a motion pict-
ure screen. Unlettered, yet they can
read this, the universal language, the
speech that would have solved the rid
die of the Tower of Babel. Before
their eyes flow pictures of life in the
cities and on the farms of America.
The toothed skylines of the greatest of
our commercial capitals flash forth.
| Workmen dangle in midair balanced
upon steel girders, or poise themselves
turret hundreds of feet above the
ground. Strings of ploughs drawn by
powerful tractors move across fields
whose horizon is as the horizon of the
sea. cleaving the soil as a ships prov
splits the crisping water.
American social workers go about
among the physically, mentally and
morally sick and wounded seeking to
help them.
Great electric motors trailing long
passenger and freight trains rush
through mountain detiles. Stone upon
stone. dam is thrown across a Jagged
| IL
have water for his land. Future Ameri.
lean fighters put foot to ground on the
drill quadrangles Of the cantonments
Battleships and troopships break across
the heavy seas on their way to France.
Europeans Receive
Filmed Messages
There is no misreading the story.
Seeing is believing" Our kindly
hearted lover of democracy on the far
steppes of the Russias can grasp the
message for himself. America is all
that it has been reported to be.
The people of Spain, Italy, Switzer-
land, Norway, Sweden and Denmark are
all receiving the filmed message
through the activities Of the American
Cinema Commission appointed by
President Wilson.
America has seized upon the motion
picture as means Of furthering the
objects Of the war. The government
has found many ways of utilizing this
universal speech. Recognizing the
fact that at least one-tenth of the
population of the country visits a mo.
ticn picture theatre each day in the
week, and that prints of given sub
! ject can be distributed almost with
the speed of first-class mail once thew
are produced, it has been made n
means of national communication.
Is it desired to stimulate the nro.
duction of pork? The Department Of
! Agriculture releases to motion picture
theatres through some motion picture
company film showing what is being
done by the boys pig clubs, which the
department is organizing in all parts
of the country in COOPERATION with the
extension divisions of the state apr;.
cultural colleges.
Perhaps Liberty Loan is beins
raised A ricfura ~ . ysL.A