The Washington times., 1914-05-22
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
the Question OF
Censorship Is
Solved in
Europe.

One OF I0e IIlIeTeSlillS ltilnSS lhdL
has been brought out by the COM
mittee of the House conducting
hearings on the national censorship
bill is the character of censorship
exercised in the various European
countries. W. Stephen Bush. tile
expert of the Motion Picture World.
furnished the committee with sy-
nopsis of the regulations under
which the European authorities
work. 1t appears from this synopsis
that in England there is no legal
censorship in the sense Of govern
m,nt participation. The censorship
that is exercised there Is the out
growth of private agreement be-
tween the producers, the exhibitors
and the exchange men. They have
agreed not to handle film that has
not been passed upon by Mr.. Red
ford. Mr.. Redford has large corps
Of assistants. and places his stamp
on every foot OF film that Is shown
in the United Kingdom. There is
no law or regulation of any kind.
Il. is a self-imposeo censorship de-
signed, practically, by the men in
the moving picture business.
The statement of this matter
which was prepared by Mr.. Bush
as highly interesting. in view of the
that is resulting in the establish
ment of municipal and State boards
Of censors. In France, he states,
there is no legal censorship. There
is no special prohibition except a
law which forbids the presentation
upon the screen of the details at
tending an execution. Aside from
exhibitor of motion pictures is left
free 10 find his own way. There are
laws against indecent exhibitions.
but these laws have been interpreted
very literally BE- the French courts.
AS a matter of fact, the films IN
France are as free as the news
papers and books.
There Is, properly speaking. no
censorship In Italy. The police do
not interfere except upon a specific
complaint Films do not have to
be submitted to the police authori-
ties before they are exhibited on
the screen.
The police in Germany exercise
strict and complete censorship over
all pictures. No picture can be
shown in any part Of the empire un-
less It has been examined and ap-
proved by the police authorities OF
the proper jurisdiction. The deci-
sions Of the police department of
Berlin are accepted by the police de-
partments Of other parts of the en-
pire, but each political subdivision
of the empire retains the right of
censorfnE pictures. The police in
sex problems, amorous adventures.
etc, but they are rigorous in dealing
with pictures supposed TO lack in
respect for the authorities. An
American comedy making fun OF
policemen will not be passed by any
police censors Of Germany. The Ger
man law allows an appeal from the
decisions Of the police authorities to
the court of civil and criminal juris-
diction in the district and the fur
ther appeal to the imperial court at
Leipsig
The censorship in Austria is exer-
cised by the police. but it seems that
each province of the empire is inde-
pendent Of the other and there is no
federal jurisdiction. although an ap-
peal TO the federal jurisdiction will
he entertained in certain cases.
In Denmark ell pictures must be
submitted before they are put on the
market TO a special commission.
which is separate and distinct from
the police. and which consists of
men in high standing. A member of
the present commission is a noted
actor. The decisions Of this COM
mission are said to be most fair and
liberal
In Russia no picture can be shown
unless examined and approved by
the imperial police. Russian cen
sorship greatly resembles that OF
Germany. but there is no appeal
from the decisions OF the police The
Tact that many Russian films i'm
ported to this country can not be
shown here until radical elin1ina-
tons are made is sufficient comm.n-
tAry on one or the aspects of Rus
sian censorship.
Canada has official censorship es-
tablished in the early part of 1912.
Each province has its own censor.
appointed by the government. An
hlms must he submitted TO them he
Tore being allowed on the screen. AZ
The time he first Canadian board oY
Censors was formed promoters of
the scheme Of censorship came to
New York and consulted with the
so-called National Board Of Censor
shin of New York. adopting many or
their rules