The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

May, 1950 141 IKIIIIItllllMI II I Mill 1111*1111 1 mill III! I llli lilt nil lllllllllllllllllllllllMIIKMtfa] 1 S Qiiiiiiiiii inn 11 i> • iinni iinm AMONG THE MAGAZINES AND BOOKS CONDUCTED BY MARION F. LANPHIER (•jni***><**itnniiiiinitniiiiiniiiniiiiiiininiiii • tMiiii Vanity Fair (March) George Abbott, who says "The finest authors of two continents have been hired Jrom Galsworthy down to me", presents to us some old knowledge in a vivid, new manner much in the tone of the quoted statement, but with none the less serious a punch. He thinks that : "If God really was in a hurry to get bigger and better miracles on the screen, he would turn his immediate attention to the motion picture public, knowing that precisely as soon as the paying customers want and can appreciate better stories, more honest directing and acting of integrity, those commodities will at once be forthcoming. "The truth is that the men in charge of picture production are as conscious of its deficiencies as are its critics, and twice as anxious to improve it." Mechanically pictures have improved, but in no other aspect have they advanced much. The writer feels, however, that the organization behind production, the exigencies of time and money and certain well known business demands, together with all kinds of minor obstacles and "must nots" thrown across the producer's path, make the real miracle, not a surprising number of bad pictures, but an amazing number of good pictures. At any rate this is a fair and snappy account of a much bemoaned condition of affairs. The Parents' Magazine (March) In June, 1922, The Educational Screen published a report, entitled "An Experiment : The Child's Matinee". The editor of this department had followed closely the experiment of the Balaban and Katz theaters in Chicago, which was designed to determine what types of presentation brought the heartiest reactions from children. I null niiiniiiiin 1111(11111111111 iiiiiiiininiiinniiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiKiin .■a As the article reported, some surprising "tastes" were discovered, despite the faulty set-up of the experiment. The question of the child's matinee is almost as old as the movies. For years, thinking individuals have known that some day it must come and for years they have tried out various ways to achieve ■ it, ibut obvious obstacles prevent the matinee as such. "Wanted, A Children's Hour at the Movies", by Don C. Seitz, sounds the old bell under the catchier slogan of "children's hour". The article further suggests to parents what must be done before any such dream can be realized. The Churchman (February 15) The cover of this issue titled "A Letter and an Answer", presents the letter from the firm of Cook, Nathan and Lehman, at the direction of Messrs. Hays, Joy and Milliken, charging The Churchman with civil libel and The Churchman's answer is quoted here. In reply to the above communication The Churchman can say only that its sole motive in dealing with the motion picture problem and the men who are responsible for creating it, has been to promote the interest of public morality, the welfare of the young, the protection of the American home ; to prevent the spreading of ill fame abroad, and to aid the churches in resisting the demoralizing influences arrayed against them in the interest of a sordid moneymaking combination which stands convicted in the United States Courts of conspiracy and coercion. It has done this, and proposes to continue, under the right of a newspaper as laid down by Alexander Hamilton, in the case of Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, against Henry Croswell, to wit : "It consists in the right to publish with impunity, truth, with good motives, for justifiable ends, though re flecting on government, magistracy, or individuals." It will be strangely fascinating to watch results within the next months or years ! Will the combination of subtlety and money outstrip decency and justice? The Churchman (March 1) "A Presbyterian Writes" is a welcome response on the part of one who has been an intimate witness of the Hays efforts to silence the Presbyterian Church on the motion picture problem. The writer, Maude M. Aldrich, Field Secretary, Federal Motion Picture Council in America, Inc., stands ready to assist The Churchman if the Hays regime threatens too seriously. The writer thanks God for the fearlessness of The Churchman, and all intelligent readers should thank God for such persons as Mrs. Aldrich, who will stand with the fearlessness regardless of costs. . In this same issue an editorial, from the Reformed Church, entitled "Movie Men Threaten to Sue", comments upon the libel charge and the future possibilities. As we have suggested, the editor feels that the battle will be no mediocre affair and wonders which side will eventually stand secure. "Hays Should Go", reprinted from the Christian Register Unitarian, "The Movies Warn the Churches" from the Christian Century, a page of letters entitled "The Churchman's F r i ends Rally", "Some Comments on the Movies" from the Editor and Publisher, and "The Critic of the Movies" from the Roman Catholic Commonweal, all review the situation and take their stands as thinkers, free of commercial restrictions, with the