Document: 360 U.S. 684 79 S.Ct. 1362 3 L.Ed.2d 1512 KINGSLEY INTERNATIONAL PICTURES CORPORATION, Appellant,v.REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY STATE NEW YORK. No. 394. Argued April 23, 1959. Decided June 29, Mr. Ephraim London, New York City, for appellant. Charles A. Brind, Jr., Albany, appellee. Justice STEWART delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Once again Court is required to consider impact York's motion picture licensing law upon First Amendment liberties, protected by Fourteenth from infringement States. Cf. Joseph Burstyn, Inc., v. Wilson, 343 495, 72 777, 96 L.Ed. 1098. 2 The statute makes it unlawful 'to exhibit, or sell, lease lend exhibition at any place amusement pay in connection with business state York, film reel (with certain exceptions not relevant here), unless there time full force and effect a valid license permit therefor education department * .1 provides that shall issue 'unless such part thereof obscene, indecent, immoral, inhuman, sacriegi ous, character its would tend corrupt morals incite crime *.'2 A recent statutory amendment that, 'the term 'immoral' phrase 'of morals' denote thereof, dominant purpose which erotic pornographic; portrays acts sexual immorality, perversion, lewdness, expressly impliedly presents as desirable, acceptable proper patterns behavior.'3 As distributor entitled 'Lady Chatterley's Lover,' appellant Kingsley submitted Motion Picture Division Education Department license. Finding three isolated scenes "immoral' within intent our Law,' refused until question were deleted. petitioned Regents University State review ruling.4 upheld denial license, but on broader ground whole theme this immoral under said law, presentation adultery pattern behavior.' sought judicial Regents' determination.5 Appellate unanimously annulled action directed be issued. 4 A.D.2d 348, 165 N.Y.S.2d 681. sharply divided Appeals, however, reversed refusal exhibition. N.Y.2d 349, 175 39, 151 N.E.2d 197.6 Appeals explicitly rejected notion obscene.7 See Roth United States, 354 476, 77 1304, 1498. Rather, court found 'alluringly Chief Judge Conways' prevailing emphasized, therefore, only portion involved case §§ 122 122—a Law requiring pictures 'which are they portray 'acts immorality acceptale behavior."8 351, 40, 197. majority ascribed language precise Legislature require 'because subject matter presente being right desirable people circumstances.'9 369, 178 55, 208 (concurring opinion). 5 We accept premise here can so characterized. too, we must, construction Legislature's has put it. Albertson Millard, 345 242, 73 600, 97 983; States Burnison, 339 87, 70 503, 94 675; Aero Mayflower Transit Co. Board R.R. Com'rs, 332 68 167, 92 99. That construction, emphasize, gives 'sexual immorality' concept entirely different embraced words like 'obscenity' 'pornography.'10 Moreover, suggested itself operate an incitement illegal action. tells us requires approvingly adulterous relationship, quite without reference manner portrayal. 6 What done, prevent because advocates idea—that circumstances may behavior. Yet Amendment's basic guarantee freedom advocate ideas. State, simply, thus struck very heart constitutionally liberty. 7 It contended State's was justified attractively relationship contrary moral standards, religios p recepts, legal code citizenry. This argument misconceives what Constitution protects. Its confined expression ideas conventional shared majority. protects advocacy sometimes proper, no less than socialism single tax. And realm eloquent unconvincing. 8 Advocacy conduct proscribed not, Brandeis long ago pointed out, 'a justification denying free speech where falls short nothing indicate immediately acted on.' Whitney People California, 274 357, page 376, 47 641, 648, 71 1095 'Among men, deterrents ordinarily applied punishment violations abridgment rights *.' Id., 378, 649.11 9 inflexible command attributed cuts close core constitutional make needless examine periphery. Specifically, occasion appellant's contention power films kind licensed prior their Nor need determine whether, despite problems peculiar pictures, controls impose medium precisely coextensive those allowable newspapers,12 books,13 individual speech.14 enough present reaffirm Amendments' protection. Inc. 10 Reversed. 11 BLACK, concurring. 12 I concur Court's judgment add few concurring opinions several Justices who rely appraisal movie Lady Lover holding cannot bar Unlike them, have seen picture. My view stated DOUGLAS, censorship moving newspapers books violates Amendments. If Constitution, Nation embark dangerous road censorship, my belief about most inappropriate Supreme Censors could found. So far know, judges possess special expertise providing exceptional competency set standards supervise private Nation. In addition, seem especially unsuited value judgments—as movies good bad local communities—which appear require. told way decide whether municipality movis i § appraise each case-by-case basis. Under these circumstances, every member must exercise his own how is, ultimately based least large standard immoral. end result decisions seems me purely personal determination particular viewed too allow public. Such individualized guided reasonably fixed standards. Accordingly, neither nor makers possibly know advance, fair degree certainty, done field making exhibiting. uncertainty easily reconciled rule envisages. 13 use badness well illustrated contrasting mentioned FRANKFURTER here. read court's held banned alluring. quotes Lawrence, author book made, believing should publications sex look ugly, understand it, 14 judgment, get into center policy controversies, little common lawsuits. 15 FRANKFURTER, result. 16 one whose taste art literature hardly qualifies him avantgarde, am more surprised, after viewing picture, authorities Lover.' To assume offended Victorian sensibilities stuffiest conventions. Whatever one's preferences matters, basis 1954 Law, mean enactment forbids public showing deals except sermonizing condemnation depicts physical manifestation illicit amorous relation. Since confirmed highest choice agree exceeded bounds 'liberty' Amendment. But also believe takes exceeds appropriate limits decision. By reinforcing brother HARLAN'S objections scope opinion, following. 17 Even Lover' did altogether out passionate zeal behalf society's profound interest endeavors true artists doctrinaire unmindful facts life regarding sordid exploitation man's nature impulses. He knew thing pornography, dirt dirt's sake, or, accurate, money's sake. D. H. Lawrence wrote: 18 'But even censor genuine rigorously. difficult. first place, pornography almost always underworld, doesn't come open. second, you recognize insult offers invariably, sex, human spirit. 19 'Pornography attempt do unpardonable. Take lowest instance, post-card sold underhand, cities. them been ugliness cry. body, vital relationship! Uly cheap nudity, ugly degraded act, trivial nasty.' (D. Pornography Obscenity, pp. 12—13.) 20 traffic lessened since wrote. Apparently increase. course debate both Houses Parliament Obscene Publications Bill, now passage, designed British authors hazards rigorous application day Lord Cockburn's ruling, 1868, Regina Hicklin, L.R. Q.B. 360, weighty experience adduced extensive dissemination pornographic materials.1 597 Parliamentary Debates, H.C., 36 (Tuesday, December 16, 1958), cols. 992 et seq., 216 Debates H.L., 2, 1959), 489 seq. reason side ocean diminution years flourishing market some leading secondary schools boys, presumably had means boys high schools. 21 surprising, pertinacious, free-spirited promoters liberalizing legislation Great Britain conceive needs civilized society, assuring utmost possible—authors, artists, publishers, producers, sellers—easily attainable sounding abstract unqualified dogmas freedom. They keen awareness freedom, absolute other reflected Holmes Brandeis, whom predominantly owe safeguards expression. see Near Minnesota, ex rel. Olson, 283 697, 715—716, 51 625, 630 631, 75 1357, limitations speech.2 22 short, evil against protect itself, whatever think questions involved. real problem formulation society take impinging necessary dependence fullest One debates House Commons Lords realize difficulty reconciling conflicting interests, framing ends agreement, generously espouse all gradually withers. 23 province meet recalcitrant legislative drafting. Ours limited task scrutinizing work draftsmen order kept narrow deemed necessary. vague, loose, leave apply wide discretion sweeping permissible permissibly prohibit. Always remembering widest given adventurous imaginative spirit, down lgis lation phrased intrinsically responsive understanding men though susceptible explicit definition. ultimate invalidating las lead timidity inertia thereby discourage boldness indispensable progressive society. 24 product careful lawyers left doubt motion-picture inherently outside regulatory powers does strike vagueness, legislation. reverse would, applying invading area finds derive expressions culled Appeals. leads give behavior' innocent content, meaning, effect, discussion. (4 197.) But, surely, attribute decision detached phrases Conway, break faggot pieces, forget meaning felt treated disjointedly. 'Sexual new branch implications dominate context. possible unconstitutional federal mailing lewd, obscene lascivious matter, land nearly hundred years, Act March 3, 1865, Stat. 507, 1873, 599, specific instances prohibition. sustaining gave 'lewd, lascivious' concreteness saying concern immorality.' recently sustained constitutionality statute. 25 Unless misread Court, strikes escape deciding protection function, however onerous ungrateful, inheres enforcement Due Process Clause. instance-by-instance, clause varieties situations before comfortable if, comprehensive formula, when confession coerced vitiate conviction. There talismanic formula. Every Term generalities disputes. equally if general formula unfairness trial want counsel. capital cases, thread way, Term, through relation defendant ascertain due process denied unique situation us. constantly called alleged misconduct prosecutor vitiating fairness inflamed undermining process. Again, series cases coming courts, invoked enfoce separation church state, certainly turned particularities multiply instances. process, and, venture believe, service-ability system, Clause antithesis Procrustean rule. recognized full-dress discussion Amendment, defined 'gradual inclusion exclusion, presented require, reasons founded.' Davidson Orleans, 97, 104, 616. exacting, demanding discipline objectivity, severest control predilections. escaped, disavowing task. 26 DOUGLAS BLACK joins, 27 While join adhere views expressed Superior Films Education, 346 587, 588—589, 74 286, 98 329, unconstitutional, form 'previous restraint' much war made applicable Fourteenth, Minnesota 1357. exhibitor prosecuted usual way. find room he scanning editorial, reading news broadcast, editing novel play, previewing movie. 28 Reference practice. relevance problem, live written Constitution. entrusted keeping legislature England interference regulation Bridges 314 252, 265, 62 190, 194, 86 192, 'No ratifying Bill Rights clearer securing greater religion, expression, assembly, petition ever enjoyed.' provision 'reasonable' press India included hers,1 interests morality permissible. Judges try word grants reasonable (see Beauharnais Illinois, 250, 262, 725, 733, 919; Dennis 341 494, 523—525, 857, 873—875, 95 1137), watered-down version 505—506, 1319—1320, language, terms absolute, utterly censorship. Different arise actually war. extremely limited. why tradition represented supra, represents ideal. 29 Happily government roots country. American supra. Lockhart McClure, Literature, 38 Minn.L.Rev. 295, 324—325; Alpert, Judicial Censorship 52 Harv.L.Rev. 53 counterpart Chamberlain over England's stage. late 1941 six systems movies. Chafee, Free Speech (1941), p. 540. number reduced four2—Kansas, Maryland, Virginia—plus areas, shown television Federal Communications Act, U.S.C.A. Allen B. Dumont Laboratories Carroll, Cir., 184 F.2d 153. information available, censors active.3 Deletion residual remains constitute elimination institution intrudes rights. 30 CLARK, 31 clear, unsophisticated meaning. say 'require behavior." states language: 32 'Moving point, alluringly 48, 197, 203. 33 significant note 14-page says again, fact times, 'espousal' 'desirable' 'proper State.'1 34 minority brothers here, twist 'obscenity incitement, just mere opinion.' obliterate repeated declarations above-mentioned times well. raise many problems, failure interpretation Act. feel, bound holding. 35 context, comes ban 1952, 'expression guaranty Amendments.' US. 502, 781. Referring 1931, while major restraints publication' unlimited heavy burden demonstrate limitation challenged' exceptional. pages 503—504, 'sacrilegious' 'adrift boundless sea amid myriad currents religious 504, 782. down. Here portrayal plays invariably hero, villain, supporting characters, location, plot, diversion main usually moral. Burstyn: 'They affect attitudes behavior variety ways, ranging direct espousal political social doctrine subtle shaping thought characterizes artistic expression.' 501, 780. viewer glorification idea 'desirable, proper' notions another devoid teaching. censor's proper.' roving commission impressions become yardstick action, accordance beliefs rather law. 'cannot regard depicting anything somewhat unusual, pathetic, 'love triangle." At three—perhaps four—of members otherwise. obscurity difficulties experienced themselves dagger's point. 37 be, Conway said, 'that morality, before, give.' 363, 50, 204—205. And, Brother HARLAN points 'each down, confusion.' broad grounds employed leaving indication requirements confusion, 'pornographic' films, 'portray perversion lewdness.' construed met Instead, placed emphasis teaches depicts. confusion enters. For reason, authority Burstyn. HARLAN, WHITTAKER join, 39 moved swiftly striking deliberate conscientious effort raised respecting predecessor statutes field. although disagree parts N.Y.Laws Ann. (McKinney 1953), N.Y. Laws Supp. particularly face, exceeded. I. 40 Section passed Commercial Pictures Corp. Regents, overturned o Ap peals' 305 336, 113 505, La Ronde 'tend(ing) 122.1 line per curiam citation 1098, turn naught 41 nevertheless, repairing enacting respects emphasized pertinent defines "acts 197.2 holds face agree. 42 suggest provisions vagueness.3 Any suggestion appears untenable long-standing usage explain 'obscenity.' See, e.g., Swearingen 161 446, 451, 562, 563, 765.4 vice immorality,' 'an behavior'; 'opinion characterization Granting adultery, unaccompanied actual behavior, hold undertakes proscription. Conway's joined two others seven trust concurred, sure doubt, 356, 44, 151N.E .2d 200): 43 'It section form, example, filmed lecture adultery. reiterate involves sexually (here adultery) plus suggestive nature.' (Emphasis original.) 44 elsewhere, indeed independently entirety, instinct desirability obscenity5 proscribed. 351—352, 354, 356—358, 361, 363—364, 40—41, 42—43 44—49, 50—51, 199, 200—201, 203, 204—205; Notes corruption morals, occasioned inciting obscenity, aimed. 'There difference substance between corruptive suggestive, predominance scenes, achieve rec isely same presenting clearly approbatory throughout film. concerned merely producing objection lies corrosive sense morality.' 358, 46, 201. 45 portions read, do, construing obscenity opinion. difficult strain has. Our adjudication opposite. II. 46 matter. heretofore ventured wider latitude Government. writer's separate Alberts 496, 1315, With approach, Giving descriptive matters last analysis subjective impressions, objectively discharge duty judge, apt repaying. therefore fore content myself according respect to, with, hope, sympathetic consideration for, characterizations others, triangle,' lacking properly termed banning limits. 48 conclude further observation. shun considering lest final 'board censorship,' somehow stands apart fields, see, 'censorship' laws impermissible, carefully abstaining, hope spare necessity adjudication. things ones 496—498, 1315—1316, contrived self-executing. lastly, witness 49 Because unconstitutionally instance McKinney's Consol.N.Y.Laws, c. 1953, 129. 122. 122—a. 'An applicant permit, director division officer authorized same, regents.' 124. proceeding brought art. 78 Civil Practice Gilbert-Bliss' N.Y.Cic.Prac., Vol. 6B, 1944, 1949 Supp., 1283 also, Although four voted Division, clear wrote Froessel Burke concluding Desmond stated: 'I confess validity resolved let say.' 208. Dye, Fuld, Van Voorhis dissenting opinions. '(I)t curious breath, censored, then breath censored. above, 'The it.' firmly borne mind defined, stature extend invitation methods craft will insure fall squarely definition term. Precedent, sound principle, support statement 'out out' censored.' 364, 51, 205. Desmond's '(It not) necessarily determinative dictionary Dye's contends 371, 57, 210. Voorhis' impossible write off entire drama 'mere pornography' Voorhis, remitted 'passages' 'might eliminated 'obscene', doing violence liberties.' 375, 60, 212. brief counsel states, Court—only cited—and bearing case.' concurring, agreed question, fairly deserve 366, 52, 206. contrast, 765; Limehouse, 285 424, 412, 76 843. Thomas Jefferson fifty ago, fear demoralizing reasonings some, errors. ready punish criminal act produced false reasoning. These safer correctives conscience judge.' Letter Elijah Boardman, July 1801, Papers, Library Congress, 115, folio 19761. Books, Brown, 436, 1325, 1469; Collins, 323 516, 65 315, 89 430; Thornhill Alabama, 310 88, 60 736, 84 1093. 'In enquiries, impressed existence considerable lucrative trade Report Select Committee Commons, 20, 1958, IV. principle immunity previous restraint broadly, prohibited. undoubtedly true; absolutely unlimited. U.S., 631. 19(2) Indian permits 'reasonable restrictions' inter alia, 'decency defamation offence.' strictly construed; restriction amounting 'imposition' 'operate harshly' invalid. Seshadri District Magistrate, Tangore, A.I.R.(Sup.Ct.) 747, 749. Note, 326, 328, n. 14. 332. identical varies statute, behavior,' 'as State'; 'exaltation love derogation marriage'; acts'; debase fundamental portraying converse alluring desirable'; 'by (adultery) manner'; recommended life'; provides: (motion picture) regents, officers office bureau cause promptly examined herein required, sacrilegious, crime, therefor. authorized, submitted, furnish report description toto.' '1. twenty-two chapter, '2. 'incite crime' contempt profitable, acceptable, respectable behavior; of, narcotics habit-forming drugs.' bill became introduced request Department, noted memorandum such, bill. attempts follow criticism defining crime." N.Y.S. Legis. Ann., 1954, 36. accompanying approval measure, Governor himself lawyer, 'Since 1921, 'obscene, immoral' 'tend crime.' 'Recent indicated sufficiently definite purposes. primary define conformance apparent cases. selected exhaustive reasoned treatment subject. create expand enlarge restraint. sole precision conform tenor proscribe 'filth sake filth.' accurately 'words understood use.' (Winters N.Y., 1948, 333 518 (68 665, 840)). noted: "To liberty guaranteed Amendments, problem. exhibit places.' ((Joseph) Burstyn (Inc.) (page) 502 (72 780)). 'So responsibility interdicting transgress decency, furnishing guide lines agency charged enforcing law.' 408. Certainly claimed immorality'; York. Penal 100—103, 100—103 (McKinney's Consol.Laws, c). Nothing refers Note taken militating Dye simply disagreed adequacy overcome 209—210; 374,

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