The Motion Picture Director (Sep 1925 - Feb 1926)

2 THE MOTION PICTURE DIRECTOR February From Those Who See To Those Who Make Motion Pictures Editor, The Motion Picture Director: In recent issues you have asked your readers to express themselves freely in regard to the pictures that they see and the pictures that they would like to see. You have told us in your editorials that, through The Motion Picture Director magazine, we have an “open door” to the producers of pictures. Accordingly I want to register my vote for the type of film that I really like and enjoy. Motion pictures to me are not just mere entertainment but virtually a panacea for all human ills. When one is in a joyous mood one goes joyously to a downtown theatre or to a neighborhood house and enjoys a good picture. When one is blue, in the dumps, one goes to the films to forget and to get away from one’s self. At all times pictures take one out of one’s self and into a land of romance, and adventure. One the silver sheet we see often ourselves in romantic roles — as we would like to be, perhaps. Taking these things into consideration I believe that I am speaking for many others when I say that the films that are most enjoyable are those that entertain and amuse, that take one’s thoughts from oneself and one’s own problems and leave one with a pleasant feeling of having, for the time at least, completely lost one’s self in the entertainer. The intensely dramatic picture, on the other hand, not only is depressing but because of its intensity frequently proves an emotional strain that is exceedingly tiring. Personally I incline to the belief that the American people of today more thoroughly enjoy the lighter themes. Such pictures as “Best People” for instance with its delicious satire are thoroughly enjoyable. One relishes the satire, one enjoys the dramatic features, the suspense of the plot and working out of the story to the happy ending that we Americans so insistently demand. It so happened that on the same evening that I saw “Best People” I also saw a preview of “Dance Madness.” I went into the theatre tired and out of sorts, I came away refreshed and with the feeling that I had had an enjoyable time. While much more dramatic I have enjoyed equally as much “The Merry Widow” and “The Eagle.” In neither instance was there the dramatic intensity nor the emotional strain that I have referred to. Just the other evening I attended the preview of what is probably a big production. It features a famous star and a strong cast of film favorites. It was directed by a director who has made a notable name for himself as the director of unusually powerful pictures. It was adapted from a world-famous story. Yet I came away worn out — exhausted. The tenseness of the dramatic suspense, the vividness of the emotional scenes and the unhappy ending left me depressed and regretting the evening spent. I am making no quarrel with the unhappy ending in this instance. It had to be in order faithfully to follow the original story. To do otherwise would be to have created a picture that had no excuse for being. But even without that ending the story left a “bad taste.” Undoubtedly such a picture will appeal to people who seem to derive a certain degree of enjoyment from morbid scenes. Probably it would be a tremendous success in Europe. But to me it is the antithesis of the type of production that American audiences desire and really enjoy. The American people are living essentially in the present. We are keyed to a high pitch all the time and, whether we realize it or not, under a constant nervous strain, — a feeling that we must keep up with the procession. Yesterday has gone, tomorrow never comes. It is today that counts. “Then, why mourn for about what is gone or worry about what is to come?” may be said to be an expression of the national outlook on life. It is in such a spirit that we attend the motion picture theatres, seeking relaxation, amusement and relief from the every day problems of life. Give us pictures that entertain with out engendering emotional exhaustion and you will give us pictures that we, who constitute the American theatre-going public, thoroughly enjoy. M. j. D., Los Angeles. Editor, The Motion Picture Director: I am very much interested in the making of moving pictures, especially after reading about “Ben Hur.” I think that moving pictures are nearly as valuable as educational matter as they are for entertainment. For a few cents we can see before our eyes “How the other side of the world lives.” Every school should use more educational pictures in the class room. I think they would make more impression on the young mind than hours of study. We use them in the Navy to instruct our Engineers in operation of new machinery. For preserving historical events they have no equal and to my rather inexperienced mind they should he placed side by side with steam engines, telephones, radio, automobiles and electric lights in everyday usefulness. I am very anxious to be allowed the privilege of visiting some large studio with soneone who can explain the “inner workings.” Some time ago a certain moving picture company took a few “shots” aboard this vessel. They didn’t cause us one bit of inconvenience; in fact, they caused a lot of enjoyment. The director said he would show us the finished product some evening. The evening arrived and he said he was bringing a few of the actors along. When they came on board there were about twenty persons. The picture was shown and a very interesting picture too, featuring the life of a Navy man on sea and on shore. To us, who know the Navy Man on shipboard it was very true to life, and great credit is due the director and company for their excellent acting. The picture was full of comedy and thrills. Not only did they honor us with their (Continued on Page 68)