Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-24
II. THE MOTION PICTURE

I Somewhere, between laudation by
promoters Of motion pictures and
lcriticism by the hypercritical. lies
1.-THE truth respecting the influence OF
these on the life Of this generation.
Ia. K. Chesterton asserts that the
movies draw a veil between the
patron and the real quality Of men
and things. He sees, as all must,
that these movies extend over a
great mass OF people an impression,
but is firm in the conviction that
they contribute greatly to illusion,
that followers of the films get to live
In a sham world.
Be this as 1t may, there Is ample
evidence going to show that people
are learning how others live. are
permitted to look over class hedges
and racial barriers, that jewellers in
this country are becoming familiar
with the scenic attractions not only
Of their own land but Of the whole
world, are coming to comprehend
that which goes to the making Of
other lives and customs; in short
are acquiring a vast fund of infor-
nation, even though 1t be mixed
with a certain amount Of misin-
formation and illusion.
An able and eloquent tribute to
the influence of motion pictures was
given by Ex-Governor Milliken in
en- address before 5000 Kiwanis at
the tenth annual convention of the
EIliwanis International in Montreal
last week. He declared that brush
Zig aside the barriers Of distance and
Language, the motion picture human
lies all nations to all other nations
and brings to each race and to each
group the consciousness of the
similarity to the Others" Truly this
alone Is a wonderfully valuable con-
tribution to human understanding.
He believes the time is coming
when the motion picture win take
the story Of every people to all other
peoples, that then there will be I'M
Outstanding which will make war
anu HdlItuS llIlpOSSIDlS' SlSdl CI
comprehension should make for
peace, but well acquainted members
of a family do occasionally war with
one another.
Again, he says: "The moving
picture has not developed as it has
through anything miraculous or In
applicable. On the other hand the
explanation is simple. The people
have found something they wanted
and needed. They have found some
thing that brings them happiness
and satisfies a longing. The world
is full of dreamers and the moving
picture allows men to dream. 1t
takes them out of the rut of every
day living and transports them to
a new field where they may live new
lives. And this is no small matter.
for men must dream and their i'm
aSinations must be affected before
their progress becomes real"
This is truthful and eloquent but
few mental reservations may be
permissible. Dreams inspire and
fructify but may be excessively in
dulged in, and observation confirms
the suspicion that this not in
frequently occurs among movie
patrons. The motion picture has
made a very important place for
itself in this worlds affairs and
contributes immeasurably to in
formation, also. in some degree. de-
pending on the age or susceptibility
Of the patron, to misinformation and
illusion. 1t Is but one of many
sources Of wisdom and may not be
depended on exclusively. We be-
lieve It possible to have too much of
motion pictures, especially in the
lives of children, incapable Of dis
tinguishing between fact and fancy
and arriving at confused conclus-
,ions respecting actualities.