Document: 346 U.S. 587 74 S.Ct. 286 98 L.Ed. 329 SUPERIOR FILMS, Inc., Appellant,v.DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STATE OHIO, DIVISION FILM CENSORSHIP, Clyde Hissong, Supt. COMMERCIAL PICTURES CORPORATION, Appellant, v. REGENTS UNIVERSITY NEW YORK. Nos. 217, 274. Supreme Court of the United States January 18, 1954 PER CURIAM. 1 The judgments are reversed. Joseph Burstyn, Inc. Wilson, 343 495, 72 777, 96 1098. 2 Mr. Justice DOUGLAS, with whom BLACK agrees, concurring. 3 argument Ohio and New York that government may establish censorship over moving pictures is one I cannot accept. In 1925 Minnesota passed a law aimed at suppressing before publication any 'malicious, scandalous defamatory newspaper'.1 Court, speaking through Chief Hughes, struck down as violating Fourteenth Amendment, which has made First Amendment applicable to States. Near State Minnesota, 283 697, 51 625, 626, 75 1357. 'chief purpose' constitutional guaranty liberty press, said was 'to prevent previous restraints upon publication.' US. page 713, 630. 4 history so well known it need not be summarized here. Certainly system, still in force some nations, required newspaper submit board its news items, editorials, cartoons published them could sustained. Nor book publishers their novels, poems, tracts censors for clearance publication. Any such scheme would irreconciable conflict language purpose Amendment. 5 conceivable me producers plays legitimate theatre or television manuscripts on pain penalty producing without approval. spoken word freely protected against prior written. Such indeed our decision Thomas Collins, 323 516, 540, 65 315, 327, 89 430. freedom platform espouses carries stage. 6 same result case motion necessarily follows consequence holding 502, 780, 781, 1098, 'within free speech press Amendments.' 7 Motion course different medium expression than public speech, radio, stage, novel, magazine. But draws no distinction between various methods communicating ideas. On occasion more powerful effective another. movie, like transitory here now gone an instant. short story, poem printed form permanently hand reenact drama retell story again. Which will give most excitement have enduring effect vary theme actors. It censor determine case. Amendments say Congress shall make 'no law' abridges press. order sanction system does mean what says, qualified 'some' laws. take step. 8 this Nation every writer, actor, producer, matter he use, should freed from censor. Laws Minn. c. 285, § 1(b).

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