Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1911)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD BEULAH BINFORD IN PICTURES— NEVER ! ! ! Since" this unfortunate young woman became notorious, the daily press in all parts of the country have been announcing her appearance in moving pictures. At first it seemed too impossible to become true; it appears as a fact, however, that work has positively commenced on a film with her as the center of the attraction. In that relationship which exists between moving pictures and the world at large, it is only of secondary importance what any governor, mayor, newspaper or society may think. It is of first importance what the opinions of those at the center of the moving picture fraternity may be. The Moving Picture World occupying this central position, and voicing the true morals of applied cinematography in life portrayals, must speak in no uncertain tone. It was commonly supposed that the day of evil pictures had passed away. It seems to be forgotten by some people that there are two ways in which a picture may be evil; one, where the plot is evil, even though the players may be pure; the other where the plot may be pure, and the players evil; in either case the results are sure to be evil and consequently mischievous. It is contended by those producing the "Beulah Binford" films that the subject is arranged to "teach strong moral lessons"; what flagrant hyprocisy! what shame-faced duplicity! Have these people discovered how to do the impossible— to "bring good out of evil"? The old satanic device of putting out an evil subject under guise of "teaching a lesson in the dire results presented" is certainly improved upon here, where an unfortunate and notorious immoral character is paraded and exploited to teach our pure young people "strong moral lessons." The infamy of such a course is only augmented by the greater infamy of the degenerate mind which so cunningly hopes to deceive the world by applying stolen moral phraseology to entitle an immoral procedure. Those having charge of this nefarious business boast of having taken this unfortunate girl under the protection of their own home while "posing" her for the pictures "for humanitarian reasons." Was there ever such a wicked travesty of humanitarianism? To give this poor girl a home while exploiting her sin before the world, oh, the shame of it! Poor Beulah Binford! Would that some wise, humanitarian, motherly person or school, could take you into the secrecy you so much need, where you could atone for and forget the evil past, of which you are such an unfortunate victim. The world pities and would aid this poor girl now so ill advised. Authorities everywhere desire her retirement, and is she does not seek it by her own efforts, for her own good, she will be forced into it by that same law which silences her paramour. Those who would help this girl to that silent future will teach true "strong moral lessons" and give an example of true "humanitarianism." Those who would exploit her are doing her harm and injurying the public morals. No, Beulah Binford pictures cannot be. AN ANCIENT LAW. A scrutiny of the forthcoming releases shows a remarkable dearth of scenic, industrial and other instructive and really valuable films. With over twenty manufacturers ringing the changes between drama and comedy, comedy and drama, the unvaried programme is becoming rather wearisome. "The same old thing" was formerly the criticism on this monotony making it appear that the manufacturers have a secret law among themselves very much like the ancient law of the Medes and Persians "which altereth not." It should be noticed, however, that those ancient peoples who prided themselves upon their unalterable laws did not long exist,' some of them only being known among the relics of ancient history. Is this prophetic? A law always works true; that which will not alter is superseded: that which will not rise upon the wave will recede with the ebb. There is a wave of progress, as also there is a wave of public requirements. The wise ones ride upon it to the fulfillment of the required ideals; while the unwise ones drift back upon the ebb and, being caught in the undertow, are carried down into oblivion. The writer makes no prophetic claims, but ventures the hazard that simple drama and comedy will sooner or later work sad havoc with the moving picture business; in fact, it has already passed the first tiresome stage. OBSERVATIONS. In the "One Hundred Dollar Bill" (Vitagraph), it should be noticed that apart from the story it is practically a series of interesting views of New York. It is a pity to have a picture going into the country districts of the United States without this helpful information as many are the scenes of life and interest of the metropolis. Washington Park and Arch, Park Place with the police arousing sleepers on the benches in the early morning. The famous "bread line" at the Bowery Mission, Chinatown and Baxter Street are all clearly seen as the background for the wanderings of the unfortunate possessor of the one hundred dollar bill. The strong feature of this playlet is its New York setting and it ought to have been pointed out; not to do so robs a good picture of more than half its value. Why spend valuable time and money in producing such scenes and then leave them nameless? Pathe's "picture news" continues interesting, if news means knowledge and knowledge wisdom, there can be no doubt that the world-wide scenes are increasing the value of news. The unveiling of the Imperial Monument in Rome is a splendid picture, taken as usual at a precise moment of interest impossible in a still picture. Events of interest everywhere are caught up in this series with a realism that is giving a new value to news and must prove helpful wherever shown. MOTION PICTURES ON CARE OF TEETH. As a means whereby the public may be instructed in the proper care of the teeth, and intended primarily to overcome the existing prejudice against dental examination in the public schools, Dr. Lyman L. Zarbaugh, D.D.S., of Toledo, Ohio, in an address before the National Dental Association, at their recent convention in Toledo, suggested and outlined a plan for the use of motion pictures in connection with the nationwide educational propaganda which will be conducted in the near future under the direction of the Oral Hygiene Association. Dr. Zarbaugh's plan is to show pictures of teeth in the process of decay and how decay may be averted; the action of the heart in causing the throb, by pumping the blood to the arteries of the tooth; the action of the saliva; the mastication of food and the gathering of germs. The pictures are to be distributed throughout the country and made so convincing that all who view them will visit a dentist and have the effects of bad teeth removed from brain and body. The plan was well received and approved by the Association and steps" will be taken in the near future for its development, the Oral Hygiene Association to have charge of the enterprise. F. R. M. READ TOOK TOGO PICTURES. Jack Read, formerly with the Imp Company, is said to have several thousand feet of fine views of the recent visit of Admiral Count Togo, of Japan, to America. Mr. Read had an exceptional opportunity to obtain intimate pictures of Japan's famous sea fighter and has some great pictures posed with the Admiral's consent. A VITAGRAPH "COPPERFIELD" COMING. The Vitagraph Company of America is working on "David Copperfield" by Dickens, "Vanity Fair" by Thackeray, "Ivanhoe" by Sir Walter Scott. They will all be three-reel subjects, and are the continuation of its literary films, the first of which was "A Tale of Two Cities," which met with such great success.