Evening star., 1919-08-24

" T is a holy and a wholesome thing
to regulate the morals of human
ity, and there are so many who
want to do it. Humanity some
times chafes at the effort and the
picture industry has been known to
do likewise. There Is such vast
difference between constructive criti-
cism and constructive law and
Just at this stage of the game there
are many who have a constructive
law up their sleeve which irritates.
The moving picture industry has ac-
complished great things in its brief
existence. 1t also has uncovered pos
sibilities for even greater things, and
probably IL permitted to develop those
possibilities with an occasional con-
structive criticism, they may blossom
into wonderful realities. The photo
play producer is quite selfish and so
is humanity. Indeed, some keen critics
of the elect have discovered that self
ishness is the besetting sin of the
world, from which spring all other
sins. Maybe this is why the Kinema
producer of England is resenting the
encroachment of the Cinema producer
of America upon what he considers
his preserves. Maybe. too. this Is why
our own photoplay makers sometimes
strive for a commercial hit with pic
ture subjects that ought not to have
been developed past the waste basket
stage. Triangle plays and bedroom
drama have called down much execra-
tion upon the legitimate stage. How,
then, can the shadow drama hope to
escape unscathed if it INDUCES in
those diversions?
*k ~
There is one thought. it would seem.
which should be uppermost in the
minds of playmakers, photo and leSit-
innate. over which. also. it might be
well for the kinema> producer OF
England to cogitate. Nothing. not
even real life, it is believed by many.
has the power of imparting more
quickly and certainly a thought or a
lesson than the moving picture
Whatever may be the psychology of 1t
vincing medium for the gray matter
of the average brain than anything
else A picture will stamp its impress
sion indelibly upon the mind as noth-
ing else will do. This fact alone opens
q wonderful vista of usefulness to the
responsibility. What an educational
opportunity The picture producer 1s
not blind to it. Although late IN
reaching the thought. he is thorough-
clusions into results. This was nrst
manifested in the Pathe News pictures.
IT is believed, which showed the de-
tails followed in various manufactur-
ing plants that produce articles in
popular use. One corporation was or
Tanized with the especial aim OF pro-
ducing pictures for the instruction Oh
the young
Recently other big concerns which
had been exploiting beautiful pictures
designed merely for the entertain
ment of the hour announced the. m
tention to film more classics" This,
Il will be conceded. is an excellent
trend. Often a picture will direct the
mind to reading books OF sterling !
worth, and good results are certain to |
follow. Picture suggestions to the
mind may lead to great possibil1tles
in the fair presentation OF the Dig
themes involved in world reconstruc-
ton. especially in the Amerlcani1a-
fion of America. The field is illimita-
HE. and now that authors OF note are
being considered as vital factors IN
the production of photoplays. the MN
industry, If properly controlled. rs
likely to rival the school, the puipit
and the stage as director OF mo9
ern education. But comperclaI PROM
must never have dominating innu-
ence IL this be attempted.