International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1931)

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-58 proper interval of rest is needed, lasting from two to three minutes, before returning to the darkened hall and the projection. Thus it would appear that, for physiological reasons and owing to a lesser degree of adaptability, the endurance-limits of a child are about one half those of a grown-up person. It is obvious that these limits, notwithstanding the interruptions of the projection, must gradually give out as the show is prolonged, and sensations of tiredness, which at first may be hardly perceptible, and are probably not felt at all if the show does not last more than one hour or an hour and a half, will begin to manifest themselves if it lasts longer. No definite remedy can be suggested for this, unless the usual one of a system of separate shows for children and adolescents, apart from those intended also for adults, and so arranged as to meet the particular requirements of their age, or else to reduce the length of the parts of normal films to an extent that could not tire the eyes of the children present among the audience. It is possible, indeed probable, that technical improvements such as we have referred to above — elimination of intermittence, supervision of the condition of the films, and the introduction of a new type of screen that would avoid startling contrasts of light and shade — will in time make it possible for children to attend film shows for a longer period without any damage to their sight. The introduction of colour may very probably contribute to this end (if films are made showing life in its natural hues, without exaggerating the red tones) and that of sound and talking films, by getting rid of the captions, thereby shortening the length of the reels. In connection with this last point, one need only reflect that the captions prolong by one tenth, on the average, the length of positive films as compared with negative. Thus the standard part of 500 metres would be considerably reduced. Even allowing for the scenic necessity of drawing out certain scenes in order to synchronize them with the spoken words and the reproduction of sound, the films would still be freed from those elements to which we have referred and which are so conducive to visual fatigue (contrast of light and shade, effort to read the captions, etc.) and the eyes of the audience would be relieved from a considerable strain. It remains to deal with other points which could not be treated in the first stage of the Institute's enquiry. The arrangement and hygienic conditions of the room: children complain that they are too near the screen; too often the floor-space is not tilted; they also complain of the smoking habit and of bad ventilation. These drawbacks could be eliminated without recourse to special children's shows. As regards the slope of the floor, ventilation and the habit of smoking at the cinema, the best-equipped modern cinema theatres and police regulations already provide the necessary remedy, especially in large towns; for the rest, it is for the competent authorities to issue suitable regulations and ensure their observance. Permission to smoke involves a further responsibility — the risk of fire. The floor of cinemas is usually of wood and the ordinary risks of fire,