The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

November, 1923 Why Put the Reel in Religion? 433 the motion picture. It is the popularly accepted and vivid way of portraying truth. Jt still leaves much to be desired as a vehicle for presenting religious and moral truth, but it can he, and in some instances undoubtedly is, a vital force in the interest not so much of reel religion as real religion. Thus motion pictures may not only serve to take the "cuss" ofif a religious service and so serve as a way of approach to the outsider but, when properly used, they may be the active agent for presenting and enforcing truth. They can add the "eye gate" to that of the "ear gate." Who could witness, for example, such pictures as "The Servant in the House," "Silas Marner," "The Passing of the Third Floor Back," "A Maker of Men," "Shadows," "The Man Who Played God," or others like them shown in the setting of a carefully wrought-out program of worship and a short vital message from the leader to direct the thinking of the audience as the picture is being shown to the accompaniment of the great organ — who could see and hear and not be profoundly moved? How much greater the message of a really great picture when presented under such conditions than in a giddy palace of amusement ! I recall particularly the difference in seeing "Shadows," that wonderful picture in which Lon Chaney as the Chinese laundryman portrays the conquering power of love, first in a regulation movie house and a second time in my own Church. It was as though a different picture had been shown. Dull the mind and stony the heart that was unmoved by that service. A minister may proclaim Sunday after Sunday that "Love never faileth," but there are some people, yes, hosts of people, who will not believe it half so quickly as when a particular incident of love conquering under terrible odds is dramatized before them. There is almost no limit to the possibilities in the right kind of a picture combined with the right kind of a service. Alas, when 1 mention the riyht kind of a picture 1 am striking at a problem which immediately confronts him who would try to use films in his services. At the present time there are all too few of the pictures which can be used in a Sunday night service, because of their character and especially because of their length. The average feature is too long to be run in connection with a service and yet the service must not be sacrificed to the picture if the real purpose of the Church is to be carried out — the picture alone is seldom enough. Would that some producer, with the financial power necessary, might give us clean, strong dramas of real life in not more titan four reds of film. It can be done. Many pictures which now occupy seven reels could profitably be cut to four and be better pictures for it. One hour of pictures in addition to a service is a great plenty. I believe that the demand for such pictures would be large. It is one great lack which causes many men to hesitate before trying the experiment. Again, some of the greatest pictures of the past few years have been junked in favor of much less worthy ones. If it is not "good business" to keep such pictures in circulation with fresh prints it would at least be good philanthropy. Are there any such philanthropists among our producing and distributing agencies? While I am speaking of difficulties may I complain of the number of good films which are spoiled for real religion because they have touches which are very unreal to life. They contain the very essence of what one tries to escape in their use. Again, there are so many pictures with a strong story and a moral lesson at the heart of them which offend in taste. Is there some way in which these difficulties can be overcome? It will not be, I am confident, in sporadic attempts