Motion Picture Story Magazine (Aug 1912-Jan 1913)

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In spite o'f all that has been said, and written, against the too freqnent exhibition of photoplays that feature convicts, murder, forgery, drinking, stabbing, kidnapping, burglary and other offenses against the statute and moral laws, we still see too many of these objectionable plays. Among the "unpardonables" is a foreign one that has been the rounds, which features a very smart boy who plays the part of a fast man about town, drinking and doing all the improper things that an immoral man would do. There is no plot to the play, and nothing in it, apparently, that was intended to win our admiration, except the "smartness" of a mere boy who. has so quickly matured as to imitate the sins of his elders. The moral effect of this play upon our youths must be anything but uplifting, and if such things are tolerated abroad there is certainly no excuse for showing them here. Again we repeat, let us produce fewer immoral and crime plays, and let our constant aim be to raise the standard! . Doubtless many bad boys have been made badder by Motion Pictures, just as they have by dime novels, cheap vaudeville, gambling, etc., but it is just as certain that many bad boys have been made better by Motion Pictures. And it is not only with the boys. Every once in a while we read of some man or woman who has reformed after having seen some impressive photoplay, of some runaway boy who has returned home, of some erring woman who has turned back from her downward course, of some desperate person who had decided upon a sinful deed, but who has now been rectified. Florence Turner says that she once received a letter from a person who said that she. was on the verge of doing a desperate and wicked thing, when she saw a play in which Miss Turner did a similar thing, and, seeing the hideousness of it and the consequences, had changed her mind and desisted. In other words, Miss Turner had saved a life, and it made her happy. Ever after, even to this day, she wonders, when she has done a good part, if the play will deter some poor soul from doing wrong, and it is this thought that makes her put so much emotion and reality in her work. Doubtless, other players, and writers of photoplays, feel as does Miss Turner, and, if so, it is plain -that even if some harm comes from Motion Pictures, there is also a vast amount of good. It is sad to see a friend come to borrow money, for we know that either we shall lose the friend or the money. Bless the man who will lend me money, but not the man who does. A friend in need is a friend indeed — perhaps ! — it depends on how much he needs !