The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-02-08
THEATER CENSOR BAKER
GIVEN WARM SCORING
Continued from Page one)


his paper. II is wonder for exhaus-
tive methods OF prohibition. 1t can
be equalled in but one way, and that
is by admonishing the producers TO
return all scenarios to the writer's,
without reading or attempting to
CLEAN from them enough to make
even blum on the screen"
The magazine takes up Bakers pro-
hibltlons. which II finds very thor
ough indeed.
Dancing receives attention" Is it's
comment. "'No kootch,' says Mr..
Baker. Underworld dances are not
Objectionable If leading up 10 moral
and are fast and short. Hold-ups CT
trains and citizens. or attempts, he
bars. and adds that all other hold-ups
must be done by auto-suggestion.
close details and long scenes being
avoided.
THE censor contends that pictures
must contain a moral ending, and TO
make story moral, persons commit
ting crime must be detected, prose-
cuted or serve a pennance by loss,
devastation or accidental destruction
IL should be shown that all ~rong
committed Is paid for by reversed
conditions OF law Law should al
ways supersede crime and miscar-
riage OF Justice. Among the 'don'ts'
Mi. Baker dwells upon advice against
the showing OF agents OF the law COM
hitting or assisting depreciation, or
agents OF religion committing de-
probation or violating the rules or
their creed. The showing of suicide
or auto-suggestion OF II, strikers riot
ing, destroying property or commit
ting violence, are all advised against
as we'll asNscenes showing arson,
bombs, or Internal machines and their
use. and kidnapping. and Black Hand
operations. Me oHicial would also
have the manufacturers OF films avoid
scenes OF criminals using automobiles
to assist lin depreciation and escape,
and the use OF empty freight cars for
means of escape. He also taboos
scenes OF badger games and vulgar
6irtatlon.
THE officials comments on holni-
eide scenes are about as exhaustive
az human mind can conceive. lie
suggests that unless there Is great
cause for homicide. or some plausible
motive. II should be avoided. Nine
subdivisions OF the subject are then
taken up, starting with the declara-
ton that there should be but one
homicide to a story Premeditating
crime, so that the suspicion falls
upon innocen; people, should be
avoided.
THE censor next takes up the sub
,ect Of dressing, and declares that
nothing is ADDED to a scene by having
the characters lacking wardrobe. He
shudders AT the thought OF full length
tights. and casts his vote against en-
,remelv low-cut gowns.
well. Mr. Baker covers the ground
pretty thoroughly, does he not? But
no adds stiE another paragraph. IL
is given in full, because II shows an
attempt by the censor 10 enumerate
the kind OF pictures that meet with
his approval lie says
"Attempts at homicide and other
crimes Is just as bad as the actual
crime in regard to law and order. A
story must balance so a moral Will
he effective. Many producers have
an idea II story comes out all right,
meaning the police arrest the thief,
they can sandwich as much as they
desire into the story. They are mis-
taken, for a story must balance and
contain just as much goodness as
badness. | advise the use Of char
acter stories, social dramas, moral
dramas. educational dramas, travel
ogues.. comedies, and so forth
! THAT is a great glide many writ
ers and speakers make when they
find themselves drifting into deep wa
ter-that and so forth, Is the pithy
comment OF the magazine.