International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1932)

471 It is not improbable that, given the undeniable advantages of this second type, it may enjoy widespread use which also seems likely from the great authority of the body proposing it. There are, nevertheless, numerous elements to define, and various problems to solve before a universal solution of the question and an absolute standardization can be arrived at. Among other points, the following should be remembered : maximum dimensions of the picture on the screen ; average luminosity of the superficies of the screen ; aperture of the fixed or variable projector ; width of the sound strip ; utilization of duplicate negatives for printing positives, etc. All these problems are at present under examination, and it is likely that in the near future they will be solved in the most satisfactory way from the practical point of view in the interest of the standardization of the reduced size film, and in the still more important interest of the spread of scholastic and educative cinematography. WHAT WOMAN CAN OFFER THE CINEMA " Madame Laura Dreyfus-Barney, president of the Cinema Commission at the Women's International Council, whose clear vision and activity we have referred to on other occasions, and notably last October when the commission of which she is president met at the headquarters of the I. I. E. C, has broadcasted at Geneva an interesting conference on the above theme. After speaking of the evolution of the cinema and of the evolution of the ideas concerning this potent instrument for forming and educating public opinion, Madame Dreyfus-Barney pointed out the interest always shown in the cinema by parents, educationalists, governments, international organs and the League of Nations itself. The illustrious conferencier spoke of the activity of the I. I. E. C. in terms which affect us, not only because they arouse our amour propre, but also and especially because they spread a far flung testimony through the radio to innumerable listeners of the efforts of the I. I. E. C. to make the cinema more an element of science, education and social progress. Speaking of the inquiry carried out by the Institute on the cinematographic censorship in various countries, Madame Dreyfus-Barney insisted on the important role which woman, more qualified than anyone else to understand the effects of the film on youth, can exert in the censorship com missions. She quoted the opinion of Mr De Feo, director of the I. I. E. C, who has recognized the unquestionable right of women to a share in educative activity. Madame Dreyfus-Barney also spoke of the intimate collaboration of the Rome Institute with the Committee for the Protection of infancy connected with the League of Nations, to which there belong eminent women, representatives of their governments or important organizations in their own countries. Speaking especially of women's part in educative cinema work, Madame DreyfusBarney touched on feminine collaboration in numerous symposiums made in order to determine the dangerous influence of immoral films and the salutary influence of good ones. Certain feminine organizations publish lists of films which they recommend. Other feminine societies organize meetings for families and young people. Others, again, make it their purpose to render the beauties of nature and art accessible to all. Women who belong to the teaching class willingly utilize the cinema as a scholastic aid, and recognize its value for professional work, the protection of labour, domestic economy, hygiene, etc. The cinema is also used for fighting with propaganda certain forms of disease and all women have an intuitive perception of its great usefulness in teaching the principles of child culture.