PICTURE SHOWS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 214, 29 May 1918, Page 3

PICTURE SHOWS

THEIR MORAL INFLUENCE VERY FAVOURABLE REPORT The National Council of Public Morals for Great and Greater Britain have recently concluded an exhaustive inquiry into the moral and social aspects of the kinema, especially in relation to the influence of picture shows upon children. Tlic Commission appointed to conduct the inquiry was presided over by the Lord Bishop of Birmingham, with the Kev. Prinas>al Alfred 13. Garvio, M.A., D.D., of the Presbyterian Church, as vicc-presi-deut. Other prominent members of the Commission wijre Lieutenant-General Sir !?. S. S. Baden-Powell (founder of the Boy Scout movement), ]{ev. C. Bonner (general secretary representing the bunday School Union), Sir. C. \V. Crock, 8.A., B.Sc. (president of the National Union of Teachers), Dr. C. 'A'. Kiinmins. ALA. (Chief Inspector of Education, Lou. don County Council), Sir John ICirk, (director ot' the Kaggcd School Union), Kevs. P. B. Meyer and l f . 0. Spunprosenting (lie National Free Church Council), Dr. C. W. Saleeby, I'.H.S., and •representatives of the Salvation Army, tho Jewish community, the Y.M.C.A., and other bodies specially interested in na tional, social, and religious movement!).

The Commission commenced their inquiry on January 8, 1917, and finished on July !), 1917. They examined 13 witnesses, representing all the different interests involved in the inquiry, us well as a number of boys and girls. They made a personal inspection of films complained of; appointed committees to visit various kinema halls, and caused inquiries to bo made amongst chief constables, clerks to tin; justices of tho peace, and among school and Y.JI.C.A. workers. Tho results 'of these exhaustive inquiries, together with a synopsis of the evidence, havo been published in a volume of 874 pages by Messrs. Williams and Norgato, which forms the most important contribution yet made to tho discussion of a subject of national importance.

Magnitude of the Picture Show Industry. The figures presented in relation to tho' industry arc bewildering in their immensity. They show that there aroin the British Isles, -1500 picture theatres, which afford seating accommodation for one in every 37 of the population. Tho attendances in tho course of a single year number 1,075,875,000; 011 the basis of these figures tho entire population of the United Kingdom- onco visits picture shows approximately once each fortnight. About 5000 now "subjects" are issued every year, of which DO per cent, are prepared in America. Some JO.OOO.COOt't. of film are running through the prejectors of the country each week, and from 80,01)0 to 100,000 persons are'directly engaged in the various branches of the trade.

Character of the Films. In dealing ivith tho character of tha films the Commission took a. very sana view. Their report points out Hint "while in public amusements there should be a consistent endeavour to raise the standard, and tliß possibility of elevating popular taste by tho kind of amusement provided must be recognised, yet, on tho other hand, tho' action of the public authority cannot go very far ahead of _the comm.an moral judgment. While manifest evil 'must be repressed, what approves itself to f the highest moral sentiment cannot always be enforced." Dealing with the common charge of vulgarity, tho report says: "It is often asserted that tha films are vulgar and silly; in reference to these two charges it is impossible to set up a rigid standard of judgment. As regards vulgarity, not only do individual ti'istes differ, but the conventions of difiereut classes vary. Indecency or ob- . scenity can be repressed by jju'blic authority; vulgarity can be got rid of only by tho elevation of popular taste. Worthj people find silly what they have not ouontfh sense of humour or of the ridicu. lons to appreciate; and are offended by tho joke which they themselves fail to see. It must be remembered that tho picture-house is a place of amusement, and if it makes people laugh it cannot be condemned on that account."

Among the films exhibited by members of tho Commission was one which had been condemned by several local authorities. It was found to-offensively obtrude sensuality. But other films condemned without reservation by ono of the witnesses were also carefully examined. While in some respects objectionable, they were not felt to bo so bad that public opinion generally would support their entire prohibition. Tho Commission considered that a stricter censorship was desirable in tho interests of the trado itself, and that this should also be applied to the posters advertising the films, which were often much more objectionable than the films themselves.

Influence Upon Children. A special inquiry was made on behalf of the Commission by tlio Rev. Garey lionner, general secretary of the Sunday School Union, regarding tho influence of picture shows upon children. He reported that many teachers and others interested in the welfare of the young testify to the greater care now exercised by proprietors in showing better-class films. Seventy-five per cent, of those from whom inquiries were made replied that in the pictures seen there was nothing they deemed injurious to children. Others considered many of the pictures silly, but not harmful. About 17i per cent, of the replies strongly objected to tho details of crimo being shown, to ultrasensationalism, and to the _ suggestivoness of several of the situations in sox problem films; but even where some objection was taken to certain films, due admiration for the good ones was expressed. In dealing with tho "crook" films, thp observers noted the enthusiasm of the vonngsters when the wrongdoer was brought to book. The Commission found that "the result of this inquiry is, on the whole, reassuring as regards the kmu of entertainment provided." "With regard to the inllucnce of picture shows on juvenile crime, the evidence of numerous probation officers was taken, also a special inquiry was made of tho chief constables of the United Kingdom. A statement made by the Chief Constable of Edinburgh, in which tho Chief Constables of Dundee and Aberdeen concurred, was circulated for the comment of other, chief constables. The. niain points in the statement were:—"(l) Tljat Ihe kinemas as a rule have proved to those who patronise them an educative, morally healthy, and pleasure-giving entertainment" ; (2) "that the picture-houses have been instrumental in reducing inlomperance in the city"; (3) "that no caso had come to his knowledge of boys being incited to crime ill the desiro to imitate what they had seen on the films, although lie considered that there was grave danger in such representations, and was opposed to their being shown to the young." In this statement 38 chief constables concurred without any I fiu'tlier comment. Of 77 others, the majority were in general agreement with j the abovo statement, but a considerable number condemned the crime film in general, but especially any exhibition of Ihe methods of crime. The most common complaint in these replies was tlio suggostiveness of many sex films. "The need of a rigid censorship was trenerally insisted on. in order lo prevent any attempts in the stress of competition to cbtiiin patronage by pandering lo vicious or prurient minds."

Picture-houses Praised, The final report of tho commission shiles:—"We are convinced Hint tho pio-turc-house means »i much liappincw not only to children, but even lo adults living and working under adverse conditions, that any attempt at suppression would be a grievous social loss, and that, accordingly, every elTorl. .should be niado lo make all picture-houses,'as places of amusement for old and young, clean and safo- morally, without sacrificing their interest and' attraction" Quotations arc given from the reports of social workers testifying to the benefits which kinemas lias conferred upo-i tens of thousands of poor kiddies herded together in crowded dwellings, and to tired-out. mothers working hard during the jneuter pari of tho day. "We recognise," the report stales, "that tho picture-house fulfils a useful and needful function amid social conditions which press very hard not only on the very poor, but even on I lie bulk of Hie working classes. . . . Apart from tho •iicture-houso, tho only rreort that is of.

fered to the teeming masses nboro the prohibited ages is the public-house, with its constant temptation of strong drink and its no less polluted moial atmosphere." Evidence is quoted that picture shows havo materially interfered with the takings of public-house proprietors. One holellcoeper stated that ho had lost from this cause from XIo to .£'2o a week. Mr. M'Cowen, the head of the Y.M.C.A. work in France, testified that the kinema had made a very considerable contribution to the behaviour and the moral of tlio troops. The opening of one of these kinenws in a (own lias meant an immediate diminution, amounting in some cases to 50 per cent., in drunkenness and crime. ■ The commission concludes: "Compelled as wo were in our inquiry to give special attention to the alleged defects in the picture-house, we have been convinced by tlio amount of testimony offered in its favour of its value as a cheap amusement for the masses, for parents as well as children, especially as regards its influence in decreasing hooliganism and as a counter-attraction to the public-house."