International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1934)

162 THE CINEMA IN EDUCATION In order to acquaint the public with the evils that menace health, the resources we possess in our battle with disease, and the caution that we must employ, in a word, in order that films of this type may have the desired effect, the pictures themselves must be adapted for each country and must often be modified according to the habits and outlook of the people for whom they are intended. Without this precaution, the film which is projected outside its country of origin will bring with it the risk of representing errors. A great activity in the matter of social hygiene films is to be observed in all countries. There are now a number of travelling cinemas working right through the year. They motor round the country giving free projections which are often numerous. In France, each group of travelling pictures includes a lecturer and a chauffeur-operator. Film repositories contain a quantity of pictures on questions of science and hygiene including such subjects as : tuberculosis, child upbringing, venereal disease dangers, cancer, campaign against slums, the care of milk, pure water, etc. These pictures are often shown in the schools. The Italian picture « Danger Signal » which sets forth the question of tuberculosis in its various aspects and the efforts of the State to combat this plague has circulated in both silent and talking versions through the entire country, and made a deep impression on the public. Poland, Egypt, Roumania, Uruguay, Brazil and other countries often use the French social hygiene films, indicating in this way the possibility of international collaboration in this field. In Egypt, the creation of travelling cineprojectors will bring a knowledge of the principles and prophylaxis to the most distant villages. In the Baltic states, a social hygiene film propaganda service has been organized. All this proves that even in the farthest off countries, both governments and private undertakings are concerning themselves with this grave problem. Incidentally, I should like to say a word on horrific and terrifying films. They are capable of having a deplorable effect on weak nervous systems, and it is a danger to show them to the masses ; he Maudit, Frankenstein, etc., though having real artistic worth, should have only a limited circulation. Another question arises. Have proper measures been taken to protect cinema actors and all those who work in the studios and run great risks of personal injury ? A committee has been formed in London for the purpose of establishing an insurance fund for illness and unemployment among cinema operators who, it would appear, are particularly exposed to the risk of tuberculosis. Cinema, Medicine The cinema is widely and Surgery. employed now in me dicine, surgery and scientific research. It has certainly an important function in the study of biological phenomena. Using the slow motion projector, we can see the activity of cell life, while enlargement has rendered possible fresh observations which hitherto had evaded microscopic study, for the reason that the active phenomena are too slow to be perceived by the naked eye. The reproduction of cells, the phenomenon of phagocitosis, the movements of the leoucites, etc., are acts of biological life which may be studied daily through micro-cinematographic pictures and we have reason to hope that one day a whole unknown world will be revealed to us thanks to the cinema. The scientific film is clearly of international value. The United States, Germany and Russia possess scientific and medical film archives fitted out and organized in the most admirable manner, The Technical Museum of Vienna has recently projected some films on The Disassociation of Atoms, The Enemy of the Blood by Tobis. In the second of the pictures the public's attention is drawn to the dangers of venereal diseases. Professor Spillmann of the Medical Academy of Paris maintains that film projections are the best means for