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m m Picture Play Tragedies ID m
By Hector Ames
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EVERY now and then we hear an outcry against Moving Pictures because, forsooth, some pious preacher has heard that crimes are be-, ing depicted in picture, and, thus hearing, he starts a crusade against all pictures, including good and bad alike. These ultra-good people, who think it harmful to learn what crimes are being committed, or who believe that the records of all crimes of the past should be concealed, will have a hard task before them if they set out on such a mission. Fr*st, they must abolish the newspapers, because these are records of everything that is evil and criminal. Second, they must abolish all histories, because these are full of crime, murder, intrigue, war and conquest. Third, they must abolish most of the novels, magazines and story books, because these are replete with similar examples of the criminal tendencies of humankind. Fourth, they must abolish the operas, and the Shakespearean plays, because most of these are tragedies of the most sensational kind. Fifth, they must abolish that greatest of all books, in which it is told how Cain killed his brother Abel, and other crimes.
Last month, many of the Picture Theaters showed a much-advertised Photoplay entitled "II Trovatore," and probably a hundred thousand people witnessed that beautiful tragedy in picture. The play starts off with a kidnapping, followed by a duel or two, Mien a poisoning episode, then a few
more duels and fights between various groups, and ends with the death of the hero, whose death was ordere.d by his own brother. There is nothing in this piece but murder, crime, passion, grief and remorse. It is anything but cheerful. Yet, it is part of one's education to know this classic story, and one who has not heard the opera is considered far behind the times. Not only is it perfectly proper for a preacher to attend the opera of "Trovatore," but nobody ever thought of forbidding that pleasure to children, nor of denying children the pleasure of learning the music of that opera, or of hearing the story thereof. Furthermore, not only has nobody thought of criticising the Motion Picture people for putting on "Trovatore," but to the contrary everybody seems glad that it was done; and the general opinion is that this sort of thing is evidence that the Motion Pictures are advancing in moral and artistic tone. But, what if a picture play should be put on with some commonplace name — as "John Smith's Revenge," in which such crimes as those in "Trovatore" are depicted! What a a howl there would be, and how the Censors would delight in forbidding such demoralizing pictures to be seen ! It is all right to teach children the horrible crimes of ancient kings, but it is awful wicked to show them how the Indians used to scalp white folks, or how cowboys defend themselves and punish offenders.
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