Scientists who have studied the movies and their effect upon people have found that nothing else that man has ever invented causes people to learn in the way that moving pictures do. Not only do those who see movies learn more of many types of things than if they read the same things from a book, but they also remember these things much longer. There are many reasons for these effects. First of all, when an audience sits in a darkened theater it is not easy for them to pay attention to anything except what is on the screen. Then, the movement of the lights and shadows also causes the audience to pay close attention. It seems that moving objects naturally attract our notice better than objects that do not move. In addition to these advantages, the movies are usually presented in a very skillful way. Those who make movies have spent years and years studying their art and know the best ways to keep an audience interested. Movie makers are good showmen; they know how people feel and think, and so they can make the movies to suit their needs.

Now if it is true that motion pictures are very effective in teaching those who see them, it is very important to know just what subjects they teach. Scientists thought this also, so they studied motion pictures to see what stories were shown on the screen and what scenes were used to tell these stories. The results of these studies are very interesting. It was found, at least in the movies which were studied, that the stories were not true to actual life in America. If you will think a moment you will recall, too, that the stories usually have happy endings: the hero marries the girl he loves and the villain comes to some disastrous end. Furthermore, you will note that most of the scenes shown in the movies do not picture homes of average Americans. They usually present pictures of houses of people who have more money than most of us. This may be one reason why people in other lands who see American films think that those who live in the United States have great wealth.

There is a tendency also for the movies to show more crime than is actually present in our society. The reason for this interest in crime is quite obvious. Stories of crime and daring are full of action and furnish exciting plots for plays and movies. Just for the fun of it, think back and see how many movies you can remember where two or more men got into a fight. No doubt you can recall several such scenes, for they are in nearly every picture. Now try and remember how long it has been since you actually saw men fighting in real life. Believe it or not, many young people of America have never seen such scenes in actual life.

Some Interesting Things To Do

1. Which in your opinion is the best way to spend time - to read a good book, to play outdoors, or to go to a movie?

2. Which do you like better: a movie or a stage production of a story?

3. List the best pictures you have attended this year. Keep adding to the collection as you go along.

4. Trace a large map of the world on a piece of wrapping paper, and print or paste typed titles of movies you have seen that you enjoyed in the localities where the scenes were supposed to be laid.

5. Keep a list of movies seen and books read in a semester, and see which pastime you indulge yourself in the most often.

6. Make a list of your neighbors' or friends' opinions on the type of movies liked.

7. Make a survey of the class to find how many attend the movies once a week, twice a week, once a month, etc.

8. Take a census of the pupils in high school to determine the amount of money spent for commercial amusements and represent the results graphically.

9. List five pictures you have seen lately and jot down after each one an evaluation of the "trailer" that advertised the coming attraction.

10. Bring to class the movie advertisements on a picture which you have seen. Were they truthful?

11. Collect all news items, reviews, and advertising matter from the papers on a picture just announced for production. Go to see the picture when it comes to your local theater and write your personal evaluation of it. Comment on the truth of the publicity.

12. Arrange an interview with the manager of a theater in your locality. Make arrangements to take a small group of classmates to see the projection room, the film storage and shipping cases, the rewinds, the sound amplifier, screen, etc. Find out how many people work there and other interesting facts. Arrange to report your adventure to the class. Don't forget to ask about "doublebills," admission, child and adult attendance, and capacity.

13. Have the Bulletin Board Committee list each week any pictures that should not be missed and the name of the local theater which is featuring them.

A great amount of equipment and many workers are needed to film a single scene.