The New York herald., 1921-09-11
A Place for Educational Films.

matter of discussion almost from the
time when they were frat presented.
Many patrons OF the motion picture
theatres insist that they are Of un-
doubted value and usefulness and
should be more frequently shown,
while the managers OF these houses
contend that they are not appreci-
ated by the spectators generally and
that the time spent in showing them is
practically wasted. The motion pic
ture men do not question their value
as means Of education, but they de-
clare that those who come to their
theatres come for entertainment or
amusement, not for instruction, and
that for that reason the educational
films fail entirely Of their very laud.
able purpose.
The National Board Of Review has
recently issued statement upon this
phase OF the motion picture indus
try. 1t is very evident that the
charge of lack of educational films
made against the producers cannot
be sustained. The Board presents a
list OF. 954 films which include only
those lately produced; Of these
354 films show North American
geography, history, people and in
dustries; 367 relate to other parts of
the world, the remaining 233 concern
zoology, biology and botany. There
are perhaps a dozen pictures Of Nav
York city showing different phases
OF metropolitan life and activities. as
many of Washington and the various
Government departments; there are
pictures of all the larger cities of
the country, many Of the natural at
fractions Of America, Of its industries,
historical shrines and resources.
Some were made by commercial pro-
ducers, others by departments OF the
Government, private enterprise and
the Society for Visual instruction.
Some of these films were clearly
made for exhibition at motion, pic
ture theatres. MANY OF them lack
the proper organization of the ma
terial introduced" says the National
Board OF Review statement, "and
fail to exclude subjects which are
extraneous and confusing" This is
Tut another way of putting what
many persons have felt regarding
the customary instructional film Of
motion picture houses. There has
teen so much striving for origi-
nality OF treatment of the subject
and so great an effort to obtain
bizarre effects that the films are not
satisfying as a means of instruction,
and they are not good entertainment.
!. One class Of patrons whom these
films we're supposed especially to
win seem to be the least Interested
in them. That Is the children. They,
like the adult, go to the motion pic
ture theatre to be amused. They do
not rebel against the Institutional
films in the class room, they rather
welcome them, but they can see as
readily as the adult the demerits OF
the nondescript films.
Among the other films on the list,
however, are many which are obvi-
ously valuable as means OF education.
1t Is these films which are especially
interesting to the educator, whether
he be teacher in a school or college
or an individual with an intention
OF enlightening the public upon somc
peculiar interest with which he is
concerned. Many educational insti-
tutions have already made use OF the
educational film in their class and
lecture rooms. Wisconsin and sew
eral other Western States. ares dis
cussing plans to send out educational
films in much the same manner MS
they have been sending out books
from their central Libraries.
There is apparently general
trend to the motion picture mars
position that the educational fllm has
place OF It's own and that 1t Is not
shown to its best advantage in the
motion picture theatre This place