The film

by M. Jackson-Wrigley

The Cinema Commission.

The National Council of Public Morals embraces many subjects in its activities; for some years it has been keenly interested in the influence of the cinematograph upon young people, with the possibilities of its development and with its adaptation to national educational purposes. The President (the Bishop of Birmingham), with the Rev. F. B. Meyer, D.D., took a leading part; the first Cinematograph Congress being held at Olympia in 1913.

The Commission did not seek to abuse the people responsible for the promotion of the cinema by outspoken raillery, but met representatives of the whole trade in frank discussion of the best means of ridding the community of whatever evil elements existed, and meeting the demands of the best public opinion for a higher class programme; suitable exhibitions for juvenile minds, for the suppression of certain evils which had temporarily blighted the cinema halls, and lastly for the establishment of a national censorship which would give the necessary freedom for the proper development of the cinematograph, whilst prohibiting all undesirable films.

At a meeting held in London on November 24, 1916, representatives of the Cinematograph Trade Council, the Incorporated Association of Kinematograph Manufacturers, Ltd., the Kinematograph Renters’ Society of Great Britain and Ireland met together, and it was finally resolved—

“That the National Council of Public Morals be requested to institute an independent inquiry into the physical, social, moral, and educational influence of the cinema, with special reference to young people.”

The terms of reference to the Commission were:—

(1) To institute an inquiry into the physical, social, educational, and moral influences of the cinema, with special reference to young people.

(2) The present position and future development of the cinematograph, with special reference to social and educational value and possibilities.

(3) To investigate the nature and extent of the complaints which have been made against the cinematograph exhibitions.

(4) To report to the National Council the evidence taken, together with its findings and recommendations.

The Cinema Commission commenced its labours on January 8, 1917, and terminated on July 9, 1917. Forty-three witnesses were examined, representing the different interests in the country. In addition to the time taken up for the hearing of these witnesses, sittings were held at a private theatre for the inspection of the films complained of. It also extensively visited cinema halls in the course of its labours.

The headings for discussion were:—The standard of judgment, Special consideration regarding the cinema as a place of amusement, The moral dangers of darkness, The character of the film, Need of a stricter censorship, Special claims of children, Special inquiry regarding the influence of the picture house upon children, Juvenile crime, Replies of chief constables, Ideas of life and conduct, Special provision for the young, The value of the picture house, The cinema as a counter-attraction to the public-house.

The Commission also adopted the roll of educational expert, carrying out a number of psychological experiments.

(1) The durability of cinema impressions on school children;

(2) Mental fatigue caused by instruction by means of the cinema;

(3) Tests of education by cinematographical methods, in comparison with the ordinary method of instruction;

(4) In which direction the most fruitful and permanent results could be obtained by the cinema;

(5) The possibility of the cinema in cultivating an æsthetic appreciation;

(6) The most advantageous way of correlating the work of the school with that of the cinema, and the most economical method of using the cinema for this purpose;

(7) The collection of evidence with regard to experiments which have already been carried out effectively by using the cinema for educational purposes;

(8) The best methods of producing suitable films for school purposes.

This report is exhaustive and is the findings of laborous sittings, full of material treating upon the cinema question from all possible sides. The debates have been carried out by representatives of every section of the community; the decisions are unbiassed, full of truth, suggestions, and remedies.