International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1930)

-48 « The Thief of Bagdad », « The Sign of Zorro » and « New York Profiteers », while Douglas Fairbanks is their favourite actor. 47 % of the children are attracted by « stunt » and acrobatic films; the « Besprisorny » children more especially have a liking for these (5 %), and the civil servants' children are the least attracted (44 %). As for sex distinction, films of this type appeal to 55 % of the boys and 39 % of the girls. This interest is modified by age. Children aged between 11 and 12 are in the first rank (52 %), and children between 8 and 10 in the last (40 %), while children aged between 13 and 15 years come midway (49 %). M. Pistrak states that children aged between 10 and 15 years differ entirely from adults in their outlook upon life. Their imagination is very lively and they look at life from a very personal and always a heroic or romantic standpoint. The same is shown by their preferences in literature: Jules Verne, Aimar, Fennimore Cooper, etc. Another class of films that attracts these children are those of a social and political tenour, illustrating revolutionary deeds and the struggle for liberty. The percentage of children in favour of these films shows a frequency of 21 %, and the interest increases with age. At the age of 8-10 only 11 % favour them ; 16 % aged 11-12 ; and 35 % aged 13-14. The boys are distinctly in the majority here also: 24 % as against barely 19 % of the girls. The « Besprisorny » children are in the first rank among lovers of the revolutionary subjects : 26 %, while other classes give 17 %. The favourite films are « The Potemkin », « The Mother », and the « The Little Red Devils ». Children like films showing big crowds, workers' heroism, their grit in the struggle and their complete victory. Pictures of this kind, which only the cinema can show, account for their preference for it over other forms of amusement. Dramatic films are also liked by the children (11 %). The girls are in the majority here, 13 % against 9 % of the boys. Here again interest increases with age. Children aged from 8 to 10 years give a percentage of 4 %; those aged between 11 and 13 years 5 % and those aged between 14-16 years 24 %. The favourite films are « Rosita», « By the Servants' Staircase », « When the Lighthouse went out » and « For Duty's Sake ». 8 % of the children prefer the comic films. The favourites among these are « Some Hospitality ! », « Three Stages » and « The Torjok Cutter ». Buster Keaton is the favourite actor. The children are not in the least attracted by cultural and scientific films. It should however be noted that not many films of this kind are on the market and therefore the children can hardly remember them. Only 5 % of the children pay any heed to scenery films in preference to other features of the pictures. The boys also like films showing pictures of modern technical systems, the life of animals, and travel. In general the children do not love nature and are not interested in it. A type of film for which the children have a special predilection are those of a legendary character with gorgeous and luxurious staging. The very fine film «The Niebelungen» may be mentioned as an example of this kind of film; 15 % of the children mention it as their favourite. Such are the returns of our enquiry. They are certainly not perfect, but are merely of a preparatory character. The conclusions, however synthetic, of the Elkin enquiry do not differ materially from those of De Maday. We may, indeed draw up a parallel table of preferences from these two enquiries. De Maday — Comic Dramatic Topical Historical Scientific Detective. Elkin — DocumentaryAdventure Comic Historical Dramatic -ScientificCultural Fantastical.