The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

222 The Educational Screen directions, and running the "second reel" consists merely in running the "first reel" backwards, when it will again be ready for the first run by the next operator. One rather important point is not cov- ered by this article. As an added advan- tage of the new film, the article states that the transparent cellulose film absorbs 15 to 20 per cent of the light; but the writer neglects to balance against this the per cent of loss inevitable in project- ing by reflection. Much depends upon efficiency of the reflecting surface of the new film, for if stronger light source will be needed to get equal illumination of the screen, the commercial introduction of the aluminum film will be very difficult. VAGUE REPORTS have been ap- pearing in various places of a process for printing motion pictures on opaque paper film, which has been perfected by Czecho-Slovakian inventors. This is of particular interest in connection with the new film mentioned in the note above, but the same problem of loss of light by reflection is involved. When this diffi- culty is met, however, both films may well have a large place in future develop- ments; the extreme cheapness of the paper film may usher in the day of pri- vate ownership of films in schools, churches, clubs, and homes, while the aluminum film may serve the theatrical circuits where long and hard usage would be the primary condition to be met. THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN (for August) contains a page of dis- cussion of the recent film made in Ger- many to explain, or exploit, Einstein's Theory of Relativity. Several photo- graphic reproductions of bits of the film are shown. The writer admits that the film possesses elements of interest and may have real value as a supplement to the textual discussion of the famous theory. Some of the illustrations, how- . ever—such as the ship disappearing low the horizon—seem rather obvioj and trivial. These are somewhat atonl for by others—the soldiers shooting at moving train and the ball dropped frcl a tower on the earth as viewed by 1 observer stationed entirely out of contp with the earth, for example. The article closes with two deliciol samples of the German caption write* efforts to enhance the film's appeal j America by English (?) titles made b him for us: "The removed train of Prof. Einstef By light and time measuring it is demoj strated on this train, which is passing viaduct, that equally to the measures < space also the measures of time in j system moved nearly as quickly as ligh do not correspondent in the least whic the measures taken out of this system* When the viewer has grasped clear) the helpful suggestions thus afforded, r will probably be quite ready to agr« with what the caption-writer is trying t mean in the following title: "As the puzzles of this railroad six m| lions kilometres will hardly be intej ligible to our readers, once will undei stand that it takes at least a film to gi an idea of it." Long live Einstein! It is safe to sa that he will live much longer than th film, relatively. v; ANITY FAIR (for July and August affords two more supposed contribt tions to the literature of the movies $ two articles by Patricia Collinge. The first is called "Ingenious Hints t Ingenues." The title would have be© far more modest and also far more con vincing, had the adjective been omittec Left to himself the reader might hav found traces of ingenuity and enjoyed tfll discovery. With the desired quality head lined in this fashion, the writer had t«