Knowledge or Thrills?

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 690, 15 June 1929, Page 8

Knowledge or Thrills?

Youth Now Prefers Mystery Plays

WESTERN screen dramas now hold second place in the juvenile mind. Tom Mix, Fred Thomson and their associate two-gun men, are out of date, a movie authority asserts, and thriller mystery plays have taken their place. Financial considerations chiefly are responsible for the fact that fewer educational films are being screened today than three or four years ago.

In many cities there is a definite movement toward introducing educational films into the schools, for, unless special sessions are arranged, the publip theatres do not cater sufficiently for ex isively educational movies. Moreover, the tendency in a great many places is for the exclusion of educational pictures on account of the double-feature programmes now assuming wide popularity. The relations of youth to the films is discussed in a highly interesting manner by Mr. Henry Hayward, of Auckland, one of New Zealand’s keenest and best-informed screen authorities. Children no longer seek the broncho-busting and the sixshooter episodes of the Wild West stars as of first importance, Mr. Hayward says, but prefer to spend their sixpences in thriller mystery plays of the Edgar Wallace type, something with baboons in it, or exciting action plays based- upon mystery plots. Just why this should be, Mr. Hayward does not determine, but he suggests that the modern youth believes that he receives sufficient education within school hours, and unless his parents Instruct him to attend a specific picture show on a Saturday afternoon, he will go where his romantic fancy dictates. FEWER EDUCATIVE FILMS "It is the same as children used to be with their Sunday school pennies,” he ventured. “They spent them on the way.” Matinees showing carefully-selected pictures have been arranged in Auckland under the “Better Films” movement, and it yet remains to be proved whether or not this scheme will fulfil the educational requirements of the rising generation of New Zealanders. •It is asserted by Mr. Hayward that there are fewer educational films being shown in New Zealand today than there were several years ago. This is due largely to the wide adoption of the two-feature programme, which occupies the greater part of the evening’s entertainment and leaves little room for what are commonly termed the “shorts,” or gazettes, scenics and general educative films which many people find so intensely interesting as a prelude to the chief picture. “The double-feature programmes pay better in many places than do the ordinary straight programme,” Mr. Hayward explained, “and in the circumstances the theatre proprietors

cannot be indicted tor showing whatever is best for their business.” The efforts of the German IT.F.A. studios in turning out some particularly fine nature studies were mentioned particularly, while the Australian studio endeavours at filling the educational requirements were included as a substantial factor in present film exchange operations. Looking a few years ahead. Mr. Hayward gave his prediction on the instructive movie. “There is a growing desire to have educational films brought before the young minds.” he said, “and I believe that the time will come gradually when the moving pictures will become part of the schools’ curriculum. That time might not be very distant. SPECIALISED THEATRES

“Another way in which educational pictures will he brought before the people is already to be seen in many great cities of the world, where theatres have become specialised in certain types of programmes. In one theatre you will have films commonly accepted as suitable for the family man, and to which the family head will delight to take his children. In another you will be able to see as much drama as you wish. And so on. “Even in New Zealand there is a tendency toward this specialisation. Some theatres have retained the straight programme of one feature film and a number of carefullyselected shorts showing nature, industry and events; while others have adopted the two-feature programme and to a large extent crowded out the gazettes and other short films generally accepted for their educative value.

“As time goes on you will notice this differentiation in New Zealand theatres, particularly in the four centres.”

Wellington has started the movement lor educational films in the schools: Christchurch also has taken them up. Auckland so far has gone no further than its “Better Film” matinee.

Films of an educative and scientific value for adults are also being placed on the market in different parts of the world, one of the most outstanding of which will later be shown in Auckland, depicting the rejuvenation work performed by Professor Stinach, the noted biologist, whose work is screened in a fascinating and convincing way.