Thames Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1929 THE VALUE OF PICTURES.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17759, 5 December 1929, Page 4

Thames Star.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1929 THE VALUE OF PICTURES.

“With malice towards none; . with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives u 6 to see the right.”—Lincoln.

A very striking and instructive picture was used by Sir Lindo Ferguson at Christchurch in a lecture on Cancer illustrates the use that can be made of the camera, and especially of the movie camera, foT educational purposes. The value of this means of instruction was realised at the outset, but curiously enough the actual use made of the camera is almost negligible compared with the possibilites. Years ago slow-motion pictures of golf experts in action were popular, but it does not appear to have occurred to the makers of films and film equipment that . a highly profitable instructional field was waiting to be tilled. There is no manual operation that cannot be effectively shown and taught by picture. It was once suggested that complete films should be prepared for amateur carpenters and metal workers, but we have yet to hear that the idea was followed up. Films certainly have been used to illustrate methods of fighting fires, the handling of traffic in busy cities, and various other classes of work in

which institutions rather than individuals are concerned. Once or twice motion pictures have been made of surgical operations, apd the idea of preparing similar films on the 'lines of the moving picture cartoons has been discussed. But the survey of achievement shows how little has been done. One enterprising American rubber company, when it commenced operations, obtained private films of the methods adopted in successful British plantations and used them to instruct its agents and managers, but industrial films have been prepared almost exclusively as advertisements. One of the most impressive of recent educational productions is the picture prepared for the use of medical missionaries in countries where blindness and eye troubles generally are endemic; the purpose being to demonstrate to the people the necessity for cleanliness and the value of early medical treatment. Copies of this picture are ■being used successfully in Egypt and India, and it is intended to carry the good work into the Straits Settlements and China, while in Japan similar pictures are being made and shown by the Government. Everydne, again., is familiar with the film designed to stimulate patriotism. But after all the count of work actually done is small. There seems to be no reason why the camera makers should not turn out a cheap and simple standard apparatus for the reproduction of films in the home and at, the same time supply films for reproduction. We know that home outfits are on sale, but these are intended to be used mainly for the reproduction of private pictures, and the expense of the whole apparatus, including the camera, is rather beyond the means of people in general. In any case, the outfit on the market is not quite what we have in mind. Home pictures might be made almost as popular as home music has become, and while primarily the filAs would be made for entertainment, there would undoubtedly be a demand- for popular instructional pictures. This seems to us to be a conspicuous instance in which industry has failed to keep abreast of science. The appeal of the picture is undoubtedly far wider than the appeal of music, and yet the gramophone in its various forms has taken music into millions of homes, while the moving picture remains almost wholly a matter of public exhibition. Possibly the position will change when the “talkies” monopolise the public theatres. In the meantime, it would seem that industry is neglecting a great opportunity, and incidentally an educational method of unparalleled value has been ignored.