We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
360 Transactions of S.M.F.E., Vol. XIII, No. 38, 1929
This rebirth of interest in the subject of motion picture film as an agent of instruction has brought about several important developments in motion picture activities in the United States Army. One of the most recent and important of these was the organization of a special War Department committee to study the whole question of visual education in the United States Army and report thereon to the Secretary of War. At the end of the three months, which was spent in examining all types of instructional films which could be gotten together hy the Signal Corps and making a careful research into all available matter bearing on the subject, the committee brought out a report which strongly approved of instruction in the Army of the United States by means of motion pictures. A majority of the sixty-two training pictures which had been studied carefully were recommended to be discarded as being old fashioned and unsatisfactory due to many changes which have occurred since the period of the World War in uniform, equipment and training doctrine. The committee suggested that no time be lost in replacing these pictures with modern films carefully designed to attract the attention of the recruit, hold it and guide it in the proper paths of instruction. The report outlined a program of production of silent pictures and recommended to the Secretary of War that the program be undertaken at once. It also approved the inclusion of the talking picture in the Army instructional program and recommended'that the Chief Signal Officer be granted funds for experimental development of talking instructional pictures for the Army.
The Signal Corps has proved to its own satisfaction that with the training film it is practicable to entertain and instruct at the same time. The need for two qualities has gradually resulted in the adoption of some rules of construction in Army films w^hich we regard as basic. They are as follows : the subject matter must be introduced in an entertaining manner ; the film must be short — one reel is the ideal ; the film must be so designed as to eliminate the trivial and unimportant details ; it should not attempt to cover more than six important points; the entire subject must be illustrated graphically and pleasingly throughout. We would rather drive home a few points and fix these securely in the memories of our officers and soldiers than touch upon a large number of issues in a film of great length and obscurity.
Many years ago, a certain w^ise man said to his sovereign, ''Sire, there is no roval road to learning." It is the privilege of the