THE MOVIES IN GREAT BRITAIN
ASTOUNDING POPULARITY AN IMPORTANT REPORT There are '1500 picturo theatres in tho British Isles, and thoso have registered 1,075,875,000 attendances in a single year. On tho basis of this figure the entire population of the United Kingdom visits picturo shows approximately onco each fortnight. About 5000 "new subjects" arc issued each year, and some 70,000,000 feet of Him are running through tho projectors of tho country each weok. From 80,000 to 100,000 persons are directly engaged in the various branches of the trade. Those calculations aro from tho report just issued of tho Kincma Commission of Inquiry instituted by the National Council of Public Morals, over whose deliberations tho Bishop of Birmingham presided. It is obvious that so gigantic an audience, which wants littlo invitation to come, is ?n audience with immonso possibilities, which must be used for the host and highest ei'.da. How is it to ho done?
More Important Entertainments. After hearing a mass of evidence for and against tbo kinema, the. Commissiou expresses its judgment in favour of a State, censorship, though tho three representatives of tho kinema industry make; it clear, that they support this principle merely as an ideal to be worked for. "Tho Ivinema," in the words o? tho report, "is now the most important of tho entertainments provided for the public in this country. Wo want .to placo it in a position of real dignity. Wβ want it to he something moro than a tiado. In fact, we wish it to ha one of tho assets of our national entertainments and recreation. It is \n the interests of tho trade itself as well as for the advantage of the local authorities that tho central censorship shall commend such a measure of public confidence that tho exercise of the'right of local censorship will become increasingly unnecessary." Pending such an appointment it is recommended that tho present trade censorship shall be stiengthened, and that it shall have the help of an advisory council representative of public interests. Moral and Social Aspects,
Tho commissioners givo an exhaustive review of the moral and social aspeoU of this class of entertainment, as to the influence of which widely divergent views aro held by tho general public. The report states. that, wliilo tho commissioners recognise that there- are difficulties in securing necessary improvement, those difficulties are not insuperable, and improvement is imperative. Ono of tho findings is that, whilo the charges of indecency have been greatly exaggerated, and tho evil is not-nearly as widespread as is often assumed, "yet that it docs exist must be admitted, but not to any greater extent than in any other places of popular resort, and tho 'regulations in force in London to suppress it sliould be made of general application. Not only should the local authorities enforce existing regulations, but the public' should Vssist the local authority, by calling attention to any disregard of them." "Eurther," say tho commissioners, "a much stricter censorship that at one period is necessary. Steps havO'Dow been taken to effect this improvement. The censorship should include not only films, but the posters advertising the films." Tho findings also deal with charges that children aro induced to steal in order to pay for. admission, and tho commissioners do not think , this can be regarded as a. condemnation' of tho picture houso itself, as the samo objection might be, and often has been, offered to any object of desire or form of pleasure powerfully affecting a child.
Bagarding the connection of the kinema with initiative juvenile crime, there was, according to the report, a mass of conflicting evidence. The conclusion of the commissioners is that such a connection does exist, tliough to a limited oxteut. It is not, however, a necessary connection. Apart from sex and crime films, they find that an injurious effect is produced on young minds by .the sensationalism and frightfulness of some of the films shown, and the wrong ideas of life and conduct often suggested. i The commissioners think that additional provision should bo made for the young, both as regards arranging special exhibitions for them and securing suitable films to bo there exhibited. The abolition of the. picture house, _ in the view of tho commissioners, is impossible, even if it were desirable,: as, in their judgment, it is not. On the other hand, they arostrongluy of opinion that not only is improvement practicable, but also of great national importance. There are interesting addenda on the use of the kinema in religious and social work.
Children and the Kinema. Section 2 of the report speaks of tho kinema in relation to -the education of children—unquestionably one of tho most interesting aspects of tho question, seeing that the kinoma is having an enormous effect for good 'or evil on tho young, and is affecting the work of elementary schools to aconsiderable dogree. Admittedly, the kinema is bettor for the child than tho' street, and, say the commissioners, tho great variety of opinions expressed by educational exports aa to the value of tho kinoma in education points to the need for an exhaustive inquiry into the subject by nil expert commission or committee.
The reasons for tho comnarativo lailuvo of the educational film ore its position in a mixed programmo with films of far moro general interest, and the need of preparation in tho Echool or the running comments of an experienced lecturer. There appears to bo an oxteneive field of usefulness in tho indirect, rather than the direct, n-othod of education by tho kinema. Ur.istic reform is needed in tho treatment of stones dealing with sex questions; such films should never be placed on tho screen at exhibitions specially intended for children. ■•
Important suggestions. The evidence taken leads tho Oomnr.ission to tho following conclusions :— Tho picturo houso should bo commodious and well constructed, thoroughly ventilated, and scrupulously clean. . . Seating accommodation should po ample to avoid tho obvious evils of ovci-crowding. . ■ Children should be seated m the optimum position which is tho centre of thj hall, at a distance from tho screen not less than one and a half times its own height. Tho body of tho hall should bo light od sufficiently by means of screened lights during the showing of the picturo3 to ensuro that no objectionable prscticos shall bo possiblo in tho auditorium, and that flic eye-stram shall be roduced to a minimum. Capable and experienced attendants should bo present in tho hall to lookafter tho welfare of the children. Tho projection of tho pictures shouldbo in tho hands of a highly skilled operator. A new copy of each film should bo provided at every performance, or at least at frequent intervals. Between the showing of diirerent films there should bo short intervals in which tho thoatro should bo suifused with light.' , Children should visit tho theatre at
such an hour as will ensuro Uiafc their night's rest is not oncroachcd.cn. Thoir attendance should- not ho too frequent, and they should not to ftllowed to stay too long at any tno visit. Tbo pictures which tho children ought to soo should bo exhilarating, without lending to undue mental strain. Designedly educational films should cither be explained, as they proceed, by a, capable lecturer, or should bo prepared, for by an antecedent course of teaching in tho school. Strict supervision should be.exercised tcprevont children, especially girs, front loitering in tlfc vestibule, r.ud tbo possibility of their being accosted.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 81, 29 December 1917, Page 9
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1,238THE MOVIES IN GREAT BRITAIN Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 81, 29 December 1917, Page 9
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