Talking pictures : how they are made and how to appreciate them (1937)

Motion Picture Appreciation complicated jobs in the world and that 276 different professions, arts, industries, vocations, and avocations are involved. Observing from the purelv physical side, one may see that no other world activity draws as heavily from so many different countries. Close your eyes. Walk to the map on your wall. Blindlv extend the index finger of your right hand and touch that map. It matters not on what body of land your finger may fall, or how remote the immediate point may be from so-called civilization: a trained motion picture technician can tell you of something specific obtained from that locality to make a certain motion picture. This is one reason why it is suggested that the ordinary approaches to photoplay appreciation have been inadequate. Most of these studies have been splendid in their analytical discussion of the story concerned. They have been correct, often inspiring, in their discussions of the motives behind the author's handling of his plot and of his characters. But, somewhere along the line, they lose force and authenticity. Perhaps this is caused by many writers overlooking the fact that, unlike the other arts, a successful motion picture story cannot successfully be studied apart from its construction, its method of presentation. The two things are inseparable. No one can possibly judge the various values of a completed motion picture unless, first, he knows thoroughly each one of the different creative arts which goes into the film of the present day; and second, he understands the differences between the stage play, the novel, and the photoplay. [3]