The Washington times., 1914-03-20
THE BEST
Phoiopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
Is q National Censor
Really Needed by
the Patrons OF
PhotoplayS?

Shall the United States Govern
ment 60 into the business of censor
Ing photoplay film?
1t is a most unfortunate thing that
the censorship question has grown
20 such poportions that the Con-
zrcSs has been called upon to take
il mp. Throughout the country the
photoplay producers. exhibitors. and
patrons have been harried by this
question. IN Illinois, Ohio, pennsyl-
van:a, California. and in numerous
'itieS and towns, the matter of State
and city censorships has become one
"f III. principal topics for discussion
in tie press and the pulpit. If it is
found that a censorship is necessary
-Inc a great many Intelligent peo-
PIE seem 10 think il is-ws want TO
be placed on record as favoring a
national censorship as opposed to a
Conglomeration of ideas mat would
oe represented in the various State
and city boards that would spring
up. A national censorship might not
prevent tie organization of separate
boards in States and cities, but ii
would go long way to help relieve
Sae present situation.
No better illustration of the ab-
sGrdities of some censorship rules
could be given than in the produc-
tlon on the screen of Leah klesh-
ma" in a Western city. This
play was used Oh the stage for many
seasons. Its whole action revolves
around girl who was the daughter
Of the greatest thief in Paris. The
principal scene shows the girl en-
tering a house 10 rob it. it hap
pens TO be the house of the man
she loves-but she doesn't know 1t.
She does not rob the houSe-Out
while she is there some one else
does. The story was perfectly well
known TO theatergoers-in fact the
play is almost a classic.
In the film version shown in the
city in question the girl and her
father are shown outside the win
dow Of the house about to break
in and the next scene shows the girl
inside. The censors compelled the
cutting out of the section of finn
showing the actual entrance. al
though the picture was allowed to
proceed to the point where the girl
inserts a jimmy in the lock. At the
time when the jewerly is supposed
to be stolen the young man who
makes the theft is shown with his
hand poised over the jewel case and
without 4 break the film then shows
him with the jewels hanging out OF
his pocket. The continuity of the
picture is spoiled and the figures
on the screen made to jump about in
an entirely impossible manner. If
il be harm to show burglars enter
ing a building. then the film should
have been cut before the girl ap-
pears at the window and rejoined
after she was in the house. In
the same way all of the action lead
ing TO the stealing OF the jewels
should have been cut out and a
reader inserted to tell what hap
pered. The breaking and entering
and theft episodes were both VIAL
TO the story, however.
II il is this kind of censorship
that a national board will prevent
Tho Times Photoplay Editor is un-
questionable in favor of il
No matter how wrong the censor
shin proposition may be in theory
as some people seem to think II is
he condition that now meets the
public is such that something of the
Kind Is positively necessary. a doz-
on Ticturcs are shown I'm Washing
ton every day that are not fit 10 be
nut before decent people. There are
also dozens. of films shown that are
so old they hurt the eyes. An In
leIliCent board of Censors would pre-
won't the appearance OF such pic
lures. The public deserves TO be
r.;ni..cted from that class Of manu-
facturers who will produce anything
that can be shown OF the screen.
In the long run. the public will be
is cwn censor-it will cease 10 pa
+rcnize those exhibitors who pay
such little attention to their likes
and d:slikes as 10 show 4 film that
Is ralpabIy unfit. In another column
", publish a digest of the bill in
troduced in the Senate by Senator
fIoke Smith. It IS designed for the
protection Of the public. What does
he I1blic think of il? Is there any
hing yo;i would like to add 10 It or
lake from Il? The Times would like
- know. Just what YOU think on this
suhicrt-it is vital to the exhibitor
I'd tho manufacturer, as well az to
lie, public Write to the PhOtOplay
Editor, telling him your views.
@. NJ