Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-19

1H HE. plan, foStefed by VIII II.
Hays. to organize national
library Of moving pictures
Il should meet with approval.
Schools and colleges are he.
coming increasingly interested in the
movies as an art form worthy OF
academic attention, and these insti.
tutionS should be provided with a
source from which to obtain films
for purposes OF study.
4 national library-or. preferably, a
series of national libraries-would
answer that need. A few universities,
notably Columbia. have already insti.
tuted courses in the technique III
there is such thing) of scenario
writing and movie photography.
Others have made half-hearted ges'
lures in that direction. Indeed, one
film producer. not averse to little
publicity, offered to endow a chair of
cinematography in any university
that would consent to accept 1t as a
gift. Nothing has been heard Of this
offer since 1t was made.
In the vaults of the Widener Ii.
brary. at Harvard. reposes a print of
THE Big Parade" saved for the
benefit of future freshmen, who will
want to knew whether the Great War
was really so great as their dodder-
ing old fathers have led them t."
When Mr.. Hays beautiful dream
becomes n harsh reality. 1t will be
interesting to see what Aims will be
selected for inclusion in the national
library Will this hall of fame be
dedicated exclusively to those produc-
tions that have cleaned up in the
box office, or will space he reserved
for few memorable financial
failures?
hope that the admissions commit.
tee will see fit to include THE Cabi.
net of DIR. Caligari," THE Golem" and
THE Last Laugh" three impression
istic German pictures that were too
far ahead OF the procession to at
tract "A crowd.
OF the more popular products, l
should say thaA these are surest OF
position in the files: THE Birth OF
Nation" Intolerance" The Miracle
Man." "The -Four Horsemen Of the
Apocalypse" ''Tol'able David. Robin
Hood" Passion" THE Thief of Bag
dad" 1.-THE Marriage Circle" The
Covered Wagon THE Hunchback OF
hments." THE Merry Widow" Stella
Dallas" THE Big Parade Ben
Hur," and all Of the Chaplin pictures.
with the exception of "Sunnyside, )"
"A Days Pleasure" and Pay Day"
Perhaps, in addition to the complete
pictures, the national library will
include great moments from lesser
productions. If so, I hereby nomi-
nate a scene from a Fox film en-
titled "a Virgin Paradise" in which
Pearl White starred. The episode
was as follows:
Miss White, portraying a guileless
daughter of the wilderness, was
trapped by sophisticated society
villain in a room OF an enormous
Long Island mansion. Thus cornered'
Miss White proceeded to lock the
door, throw the key out OF the WIN
dow and then so for the cad with
both fists. She knocked, hammered
and pounded him about the room un'
Ri he finally managed to burst out
through the door, closely followed by
Miss White. She completed her noble
work by kicking the licensious club
man downstairs.
In view Of the plans for national
library of moving pictures. the fol,
lowing bulletin from the Universal
press department is of interest tor
is it?):
1.-THE Smithsonian Institute at
Washington will hold for posterity a
negative of Universal's production of
Uncle Toms Cabin This negative
will be placed in an airproof vault and
Theoretically sealed for the period of
100 years from the date of it's deposit.
In 2O27 it will be removed and will
furnish an interesting comparison
with the films of the twenty-first CEN
fury.
THE manner in which it will be re.
ceived at that time will not be report
ed by us. but presents an interesting
subject for speculation"