Children and the Cinematograph

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7847, 8 July 1911, Page 13

Children and the Cinematograph

NOT Ion" ago the journal- '‘M.A.P.*” had one of its characteristic articles •devoted ir> “Crime and the Cinematograph. ” The article in question bioughfc forward a number of instances to prove the curiously strong influence exercised ■on sensitive minds by cinematograph pictures, especially in the case of children nnd young people. Of couso one hardly realises at this tfkle of the- world what an enormous number of these picture shows are in constant operation in the older centres. To take one instance. There are throe picture show halls with a quarter of a mile of each other in a certain .London suburb, two of these being* “’cont'innous” shows. Wo ail have the ITmimbdiUdi tragedy still fnvh in our memories, and from the pictures that filled the English, illustrated press can realiso wtiat it meant to hear lhat films of thesi-ogo, the-search for the Bodies-, and all the horrors of tho occasion, were being shovra at picture theatre's.

Tho sensational incident of the young girl who after returning from a thrilling (wet of films representing a dranui-lio ]jurglurry, gagged and bound herself in proof of a mock burglary, will be remembered. So also perhaps the case of a Canadian schoolboy, who being of a sensitive and perhaps hysterical lempcromcnt was narrowly preveulod from committing suicide after spending the evetning at a cinematograph show. Possessed with tho idea that his parents were treating him unjustly, ho tried, to ro-act tho domestic tradegy ho had just witnessed at “tho pictures/' Two very sad tragedies have happened’ within our own country which there is more than a suspicion, were suggested by cinematograph films. Yet “the pictures" is par excellence tho form, of evening entertainments which parents are quite at ease about allowing their children to attend with absolute freedom. It is only fair to say that so far as local experience goes, a very wise selection of ti I ms is marie, and an active supervision of the character of these entertainments exercised. Notwithstanding this, only last month two small boys aged respectively eight and ten were brought ■before the Juvenile Court on a charge of “breaking and entering." In their defence it was urged that they had been influenced by cinematograph pictures of burghuries. ■- They had been—poor little lads—fascinated by the ease and distinction with which tho heroes of “the pictures” had emptied other peoples' tills «ud fillod their own pockets. Just because, apart from the experience of other countries, it is evident that this matter touches us very closely and is

of interest to all parents, I have okceen it as my topic to-day. Many women, not of the assertive or advanced type are genuinely anxious to do what they can, as "citizens, for the general betterment. This question ef children and tho cinematograph appears to me to be ono of the topics in which, as mothers, they -arc keenly and specially interested. In the country town whore tho juvenile burglars I have mentioned were said to have como under the influence-of the cinematograph tho borough council has decided that all films must bo run through for censorship, prior to being shown publicly.

Few among us realise, I think, what a wonderful development and expansion awaits the cinematograph in the near future. Edison, tho modern magician, is, of course, tho source of the swiftly coming revolution, by which moving pictures are made to talk! Tho kinotophone is not yet quite perfect, bub the friends of tho great inventor, who have seen tho trials of the new marvel, declare that in a low weeks tho music halls and picture theatres of tho world will bo clamouring for possession, of tho kinotophone. “Tho lips of the people in the picture move in unison, with their words. A picture of a man thrown on a screen dropped a cricket ball, and you heard the sound of its fall on the floor. The man pounded the table with a hammer and the sound of every blow was perfect. ,J The invention is a union of photograph and phonograph, and though, it may be incorrect ik> trail it an “ expansion” of the cinematograph, it comes with the sain© wonderful field of achievement. More than over then is the question of tho picture show as it is and as it will bo, a theme for women to intercept themselves in. As to the educative possibilities of tiie picture show there can be no doubt. The most distant and beautiful spots of the.world are brought almost to our own fireside. We ‘'may go orchid hunting in tropical forests, wander among the amazing temples of ancient Egypt, move through the bright scenes of the Kiviora, steal silently through, the waterways of Venice, see camps, courts, kings: all are real and intimate pictures in that pa-ssing show. Native studies of tho most delicate beauty, scenes of bird life, solitudes of the tropics or of the cruel North: tho sixpenny child traveller may enjoy them all. And it is just because of all these splendid claims on our support and consideration that we want to be sura, we women* that there shall be no danger of the drawbacks that spring from careless and sensational selection of subjects. —ZEALANDIA.