Reel and Slide (Mar-Dec 1918)

REEL and SLIDE 15 'iiiis department describes briefly the best reels of an educational nature, on as wide a variety of subjects as possible. Not all of the subjects mentioned are new. A Firearms Subject. THE Colt Fire Arms factory at Hartford, Conn., is the subject of an educational picture filmed by the Universal Company's Industrial Department, and which will be shown in a coming issue of the Universal Screen Magazine. How machine guns are constructed for use by American soldiers in France is one of the most interesting parts of this picture. "Dogs of War," Filmed. Dogs are now used on the battlefields to search out wounded soldiers. These animals are trained to nose around shell holes after a charge and under fire, undergoing all of the dangers of "no man's land." The Hearst-Pathe News No. 14 contains moving pictures of these dogs in action. Why the Aeroplane Flies. J. F. Leventhal has drawn an animated picture for the 107th release of the Paramount-Bray^ Pictograph, entitled "The Rudiments of Flying." This feature explains simply the principle upon which the aeroplane is sustained in the air. Astronomy on the Screen. The Educational Films Corporation of New York announces "The Mount Wilson Observatory," which takes the audience into a modern astronomical observatory and shows interestly and instructively the instruments with which science is now studying the heavens. Included and introductory to the reel is a picture of the transportation of a huge telescope up the mountain side to the observatory, in sections. Machines driven by clock work are given in closeups. Glimpses of the "milky way" and various important stars, photographed through a microscope, are also shown. (This reel is booked through the Hoffman-Foursquare Exchanges.) "From Here to Summerland." "From Here to Summerland" is the title of a picture issued by the Educational Films Corporation. It takes the audience through bleak, snowswept landscape and then on to beautiful spots where summer reigns supreme. Beautiful scenery and contrast mark this release. People of the Mountains. The Paramount-Bray Pictograph photographers (in Pictograph No. 106) have gone into the wild mountain country of the South, where primitive methods of living are still in vogue and cinematographed w-omen using the spindle, beating hides and grinding grist much as they did a hundred oi more years ago. Being well done, this picture is full of human interest and is of much educational value. Horse in Action-Travel. Pathe offers a split reel feature, through Pathe Exchanges, depicting, by means of the Pathe speed camera, the harmony of movement as typified in a running horse. "The speed camera makes 120 exposures to the second against sixteen made with the ordinary camera. The result is a detailed study of the beautiful workings of the horse's body and muscles, which is capable of analysis by the student. On^-the same reel we find "Rocamadour and the .Valley of the Lot," showing the ancient castle in that French town which rises directly from the rock. It offers a beautiful scenic and, at the same time, an instructive picture. Primitive Indians — Fishing. "Indian Fisherman" is the title of a new release distributed through Universal Exchanges and produced by Commissioner Finley of Oregon, who has taken moving pictures of the Columbia River section. The Indians are shown spearing fish from rocks on the shore of a salmon stream. Films on Surgery. The Clinical Film Libraries, 110 West 40th street, New York City, announce a long list of important subjects on surgery which are for exhibition among physicians, surgeons and medical students. These medical subjects have been produced under the direction of eminent physicians and medical men and are highly technical. Complete School Courses. Subjects made especially for use in graded schools and high schools are offered by the Lincoln & Parker Company, Worcester, Mass., as follows: United States history (60 reels), physi ology and hygiene (25 reels), domestic science (25 reels), agriculture (25 reels), world geographj (200 reels), nature study (25 reels), English classics (40 reels), civics (25 reels), physics (25 reels). These pictures are arranged for individual grades, from the first grade to the high school. Most of them are complete, though several are still in process of production under competent specialists in each branch of study. World Travelogs. Lincoln & Parker Company are distributing high-grade travel reels under the general title of "World Travelogs," which have entertainment, as well as instruction, as their motive. There are many industrial subjects among them, taken in out of the way places in far corners of the world. The Egypt of Moses, "Egypt in the Time of Moses" (1,000 feet) is offered by the Kalem Company, New York, as especially interesting to churches. The primitive industries, still much in vogue along the Nile, are depicted by excellent photography. The making of straw brick from the first operation of digging the clay to the baking of the bricks in the sun's heat is especially instructive. "The Royal Gorge." Unusually beautiful and interesting moving pictures taken of the Royal Gorge have been produced and are being distributed by the Atlas Educational Film Co. (Chicago). This picture also contains views of an elk herd. Mark Twain gave 'Tom Sawyer" to the youth of America. living boy. (Arthur E. Curtis.) The film has made him a "Les Miserables" Pictured. A twenty-reel educational, "Les Miserables," is being released to schools and colleges through the Pathescope agencies. The Pathescope Company also lists over 600 subjects of educational films, including reels on hunting, religious, reconstructed history, science, military sports and war scenes, natural history, industries, manners and customs, travel, etc. "Alice in Wonderland." An unusually attractive six-reel semi-educational subject is offered by the Eskay Harris Feature Film Corporation, 126 West 46th street. New York, in "Alice in Wonderland," Lewis Carol's English classic. This picture introduces all the well-known characters in the literary phantasy, bringing them to real life to the joy of young children (and of grownups as well). This picture has been called one of the most delightful subjects ever offered to children on the screen. United States Govt. Films Arthur E. Curtis of Chicago announces that he can now co-operate with schools and churches which are interested in the new United States Government pictures, released through the State Councils of Defense. There are seven reels up to date showing the various training activities of the army and navy. "Birth of a Plant" Instructors will be interested in a picture entitled "The Birth of a Plant," one of a series of reels on nature study, handled by Arthur E. Curtis of Chicago. There are other reels in the series on zoology and engineering. Dalmatia and Sea Birds. Universal offers a new series of sea bird pictures in the Finley Nature Pictures, which shares the reel with some unusually beautiful pictures of the rocky coast of Dalmatia. The pictures of the birds are exceedingly intimate and offer an excellent opportunity for detailed study. (One thousand feet.) What Camouflage Is. The Paramount-Bray Pictograph (108th issue) contains instructive and interesting pictures designed to show that the word "camouflage" really means. It is shown that this art began with animals, many of which have been equipped by nature to protect themselves by means of harmonizing with their environment when trouble approaches. The picture is augrrtented with animated drawings. Reels on Australia. The Bureau of Commercial Economics, Washington, D. C, has among other subjects, some interesting pictures taken in the commonwealth of Australia, "The Pleasure Side of Australia," "The Australian Cattle Station," "Frozen Meat Industry in Australia," "Irrigation in Australia," etc. With Bruce in "Skyland." Robert C. Bruce, whose unusually entertaining and highly instructive reels are issued regularly by the Educational Films Corporation (New York), offers a picture taken on the heights of a mountain peak which affords a valuable study of cloud formations, beautiful and cleverly done in the extreme. This subject is titled, "Where the Clouds Come From."