Evening star., 1936-02-17
BOWernnan
Urges Use of
New Digest
Library Head Advises
Study of New Film
Review.

HERE is a movie for every taste,
and Washingtonians may save
themselves valuable time and possible
disappointment by dropping into the
Public Library to consult the new
Motion Picture Review Digest before
making up their movie programs, DR..
George F. Bowerman, public librarian,
said in an interview this morning.
Before David Wark Griffith pro-
duced his epoch-making film, The
Birth of Nation the public was
dependent upon the offerings of the
neighborhood movie house, frequently
nickelodion serving fare highly
spiced with hair-raising Western ad-
venture, breath-taking serials and
slap-stick comedy. With THE Birth
of Nation" moving picture production
invaded the realm of the arts, and
became a serious rival of the so-called
legitimate stag. Large motion picture
theaters were built in downtown Sec
tions of our cities and in some cases
crowded out the other theaters. The
advent of the talkie further increased
the movies scope by opening up the
operatic and musical comedy field to
the no longer silent screen.
"All this has made the problem of
selection more difficult" DR.. Bower
man continued Some 30 pictures are
available to Washingtonians every
night. Finer methods of production
and better subjects have not eliminated
poor or harmful films. There have
been many concerted efforts by Nation
wide organizations to clean up the
movies, and several Of these bodies
have reviewing boards which evaluate
the current film output. Heretofore
this material has been available only
to members, or those subscribing to
periodicals publishing the estimates of
these previews. Now the Motion Pic
ture Review Digest has made these
opinions available to every one through
the Public Library.
''It Is no longer necessary to consult
a half dozen sources to obtain a
rounded estimate of picture. The
Motion Picture Review Digest culls
the opinions of some 40 reviewing
organizations and publications, and
gives from three to 10 or more excerpts
from the longer reviews. As the source
Of each opinion is clearly given, any
one particularly interested may follow
up the longer reference. The Digest is
issued at least once a week, and in
cludes previews so that information
about current films is available as soon
as possible.
"The films reviewed include not
only the American output, but such
foreign pictures as are likely to become
available in our larger cities. Each
picture is usually evaluated from three
different angles: BY reviews from
motion picture trade papers to aid
the exhibitors in estimating the
probable drawing power of the films;
by general newspaper and magazine
reviews to inform the adult moviegoer
of the artistic and entertainment
values of the picture, and by the opin-
ions of special reviewing organizations
which pass on questions of morality
and propriety, frequently in regard to
the suitability of the films for children.
washington audiences should be
particularly discriminating in regard
to their movie fare" DR.. Bowerman
concluded. "as the city is little better
served by the legitimate stage than
the average small town with its one
opera house on Main street and its
community little theater group. With
no choice in regard to the attractions
of the legitimate stage, it behooves the
theater patron to make the most of his
movie opportunities"