The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-07-21

The Soviet cinema cannot per-
NIT it's films to reflect bourgeois
ideas and tendencies. Still less
can it allow them to be the
medium for propagating deprav-
ity and crime by representing these
in an attractive form. Our films must
be instructive as well as attractive,
and the melodramatic form, properly
developed, is perhaps the most suit
able for the cinema.
More Attention to Science.
Further, the cinema can be used
for the creation Of living propaganda
and publicity with great effect if the
productions are humorous and inter
esting. Equally important is the rep
resentation on the cinema of a revo-
lutionary chronicle and a weekly ga
zette of the most important world
events. Much more attention should
be paid to the scientific film, which
can be interesting and attractive.
Whilst the cinema may yield us
profits, our main interest is the provi-
sion of rational amusement as well as
valuable instruction for our people,
particularly for those living on the
outskirts of the towns and in the vii.
lagos"
Ukraine Boosts Films.
During the discussion, it was shown
that the cinema industry, which had
developed between 1857, had been
very hard hit during the civil war.
Many of the theatres lost most of
their properties, which were carried
off by their former owners. At the be-
ginning Of 1924 there were 1900 Gin
ema theatres turnout the Union. Ow-
ing to. lack of means, many of these
have shut down.
1t is in the Ukraine that the cinema
industry, including the production OF
films, Is in the most favorable posi-
ton. Since the autumn of 1922, and,
especially since the beginning of 1924,
the industry has gone ahead. The
great difficulty, in the Ukraine, as in
other districts, is the heavy taxation
on cinemas.
Not Too Much Monopoly.
The conference passed a resolution
embodying its suggestions for the
future of the industry. 1t insisted on
the preservation Of the States film
monopoly, but urged that the mon
opoly must not be allowed to paralyzt
the initiative of Soviet enterprise. AL
cinema organizations within the Soviet
Union should combine to form a joint
stock company. Such step could only
be successful il material help were
available and the state taxes reduced
The State film monopoly should be
regulated by the Education Commits
sariats of the various republics and
autonomous areas. All cinema organ
izations in the Union should be given
the right to take films thruout the ter.
ritory Of the Union. The general reg
ulation of cinematography should be
in the hands of Union Commissariats
for Education.
To investigate the difficulties of the
cinema industry and to work measures
for future development, a Commits
sion is to be set up consisting of rep
resentatives of the Chief Political
Education Department (Glavpolitpro-
svet), the Art Workers Union (Rabis)
and of all cinema organizations.
Get co-ops' Help.
The conference also decided to re-
quest the GlaYpolitprosvet, the Execu-
tive of Rabis, the All-Russian Coun-
Gil of Trade Unions, and cooperative
organizations to suggest jointly ways
and means of obtaining the assistance
Of the co-operatives in the develop
ment Of the cinema industry.
Finally, the conference recommended
all cinema organizations of the Soviet
Republics and autonomous areas to
help in every possible way to develop
and strengthen the Proletarian Cinema
Association (Proletkino).