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Motion Pictures and The Spirit of Service
By BRYANT WASHBURN
Paramount Star Says that like the newspaper , the screen is a moulder of public opinion and, therefore pictures should be clean, cheerful, sincere, truthful and beautiful.
THERE is an unquenchable spirit abroad in the land today— the spirit of service — and the motion picture fraternity has already demonstrated that, so far as it is concerned, it is actuated solely by this spirit, willingly making sacrifices that are directed toward rendering the pictures of more value and to aid in sustaining the cheerful confidence of the people at home in war and peace.
It is a good thing to-day to be engaged in making motion pictures— it means that one is giving one’s best in artistic endeavor, not as in times past simply for the joy of the work or for the money there might be in it, but as a service.
Every time I can make someone in the audiences who may see my pictures smile or laugh ; every time I can lift them temporarily, even, from the oppression of world events ; every time I can bring perhaps a little joy into darkened lives or inspire a note of hope in a despairing heart — ■
Like the newspaper, the screen is a moulder of opinion. The producer must have his hand upon the pulse of the public. His responsibility is reflected upon those who appear in the pictures. It is a part of each one’s duty to do his best to the end that the W'orld shall benefit by the finished product.
It is all the spirit of service in the broadest usage of the word. It is the spirit of bigness that must permeate every industry and endeavor in these days of unprecedented events all over the world. The public desires pictures which present life as they understand it and characters they are familiar with. That is why I think my latest Paramount picture, “Poor Boob” is one of the best in which I have appeared.
I like the character of Simp Hightower because he is so natural and lifelike. He proves that he is a man after all and finally is nominated for Congress. Such stories teach practical lessons and they support my theory that screen service can result in great public good.
surely I can only feel an infinite amount of satisfaction.
I am happy in my environment, happier than ever before. I have long wished to work under the Paramount banner and to do a picture with Cecil B. DeMille. I am now doing both. I feel that under such auspices it will be my own fault if my pictures do not afford that quality of entertainment that is essential in these days.
As I have intimated, I am proud to be ranked with the film fraternity and I have pledged myself to every effort in the direction toward which I believe we should trend to-day in our pictures. This includes, among other things, cleanness, cheerfulness, sensible optimism, sincerity, truth, beauty. These intermingled can scarcely fail to result in good for those who see the finished product.
It is no light responsibility — that of properly entertaining the people. There must be good judgment and care exercised.
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