Reel and Slide (Mar-Dec 1918)

REEL and SLIDE * "The Sojourn in Egypt" — another scene from Kalem's Bible study picture, "From the Manger to the Cross" — a picture shown in Dr. Reisner's church. picture, "From the Manger to the Cross." It was taken in Palestine in historical surroundings, and is not cheap and tawdry, but serious, solemn, stately and splendid. The man who took the part of Christ in it spoke in the writer's pulpit while the picture was being shown and did it gracefully and effectively. He is now fighting in the trenches in France. Another life of Christ equally beautiful, but not quite so historical, was shown in this country under the title of "Christus." Some others have appeared, but they have not been stately and strong as have these two. Indorses "Honor System" The "Honor System," made by Wm. Fox, is worthy of being shown on a Sunday night. It is beautifully helpful to employ a scenic picture. At present, Grace Church is showing the Burton Holmes Travelogues, made by the Paramount company. The writer has known of a great many churches which had been empty, but when the}' employed one or two reels Sunday night to draw the people in, were filled. This gave the preacher a chance to deliver his message. The conscience of the people do not quite approve their attendance on a strictly entertainment program Sunday. But when they come to a church where they are partially entertained and where they get a conscience stimulator and strengthener, they go away happily and will come back again promptly. There arc limitless possibilities of making pictures to be used by the church. The Gethsemane scene in the picture "Intolerance" is matchlessly fine. Some day Mr. Griffith will put himself to building a wonBefore the war is over it will be sadly needed. Old Testament dramas lend them "The church, the newspaper and motion pictures are the world's most influential mediums," says Rev. C. F. Reisner. subjects. Why should it not be done again in motion pictures? It is reputed that a new cure for drunkards consists in taking a motion picture of the victim and at the same time recording in a phonograph his sayings while drunk. When he is sober, the picture and the sayings are turned loose on him until he sees what an utter fool he was. Prof. Coe Investigating At the writer's church, during the past winter, a careful experiment is being made of the effect of various motion pictures upon children. Prof. George A. Coe of Union Theological Seminary, the greatest religious educational expert in the country, is directing it carefully. Methods are being employed to find out what kind of pictures and what features in the pictures affect the children and how they affect them. Out of this will come conclusions that will guide in the selection of pictures and in the production of pictures. Questions are asked, exclamations are watched, applause or disgust is noted and other methods are employed to discover what stays in the mind after the picture is over. In the sarrie way, larger pictures are being used for adults in the church to see what they object to and what they approve, and how it influences their characters. It is hoped that ultimately the motion picture industry will form a bureau into which they can put the pictures no longer valuable for commercial use so that they will be within the range of the financial resources of the churches. The churches must also look after entertaining the people. It is the church's duty to get closer to its people by taking a broad view of their natural longing for entertainment and to see that they get the right kind. A wonderful opportunity is at the same time offered to bring them closer to the church. Nothing finer is offered than motion pictures. Some day the church will preach through motion pictures, both gladness and deeper spiritual things, for more truth goes effectively through the eyes than through the ears. selves to marvelous reproduction in pictures. The first dramas in war presented derful picture for religious propaganda, on the stage were built around religious Color Motography Achieved LEON FORREST DOUGLAS of San Rafael, Cal., recently exhibited a new process of producing motion pictures in colors at the Wurlitzer Fine Arts Hall in New York. His device reproduces every hue, shade and tint of the colors of nature in a manner said to be both practical and inexpensive. In addition to producing color, the range of tint is apparently unlimited, every shade and color being possible. Mr. Douglas has in his collection pictures of bathing girls, Indian scenes and features of the Yosemite Valley, animals and scenes in the Yellowstone Park, waterfalls, rainbows, flowers and many California scenes. The most remarkable feature of these pictures is the flesh color, which is very natural. One picture was a close-up of a girl's dimpled face, surrounded by roses in their natural color. The girl's hair and blue eyes were naturally reproduced. Despite the fact there has been many recent color inventions, Mr. Douglas is said to have received encouragement from some of the largest producing companies.