The Washington times., 1915-04-13
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
Art That Depends on
Public Opinion for
Support Must Bo1o
to,That Opinion

-HAT the motion picture indus
try most needs protection
! from its own people Is the
conclusion that many of the
best known authorities on the SUBJ
ject have. reached. AS has been
repeatedly stated in this column, the
scuteness of the question Of censor
ship at the present time is due to
the lack of forethought on the part
OF certain class of producers
themselves more than it is to the
reformers who have done much of
the agitating.
III the film people had exercised
the Judgment to kill bad pictures
In the studio there would nsver
nave been any such thing as a CEN
sorship suggested. And there was
no excuse for. not doing so. The
opportunities to make film are too
broad for the field of questionable
production ever to have entered.
But the gentlemen on whom the re-
sponsibility fell were too anxious to
get all the money they could get
at once-and we have the censor
ship agitation as a direct result.
When this idea was put forward
In this column some time ago it
came in for considerable criticism
from the film representatives.. They
did not understand why they should
be charged with any such respon-
sibility. 1t was for the exhibitor
and the public to beware-the old
81
public is showing how 1t intends
to beware" by the multiplicit,. of
censorship laws and regulations.
And the film people Of the better
class show how they have awak-
ened to a realization of what has
happened by the way they are
fighting the laws.
The best and sanest comment on
the situation that has been pun-
Lord Wright, motion picture editor
Of the Dramatic Mirror. Mr..
Wright SAYS:
"Gou would place petty restric-
tions on q wonderful art" say the
producers or this type Of picture.
Granted, But does art know no
laws? Is the artist given license to
men? Must art always be wrong
Has art to rule out of consideration
the lives and ambitions Of the nine
tenths. and paint only the sordid
tale of the onc-tenth?
Art that is for arts sake may do
this. but art that depends for its
existence on the approval of the
Ninety million must bow to the
wishes OF that ninety million.
Questionable themes are tho play
things of fools and tho treasures OF
genius. They are not for the day
IN and day out work of the average
pcture producer. nor the daily food
Tor the average picture auditnce.
The producer who must dabble in
the sensational to achieve notice
ness. The comedian who is forced
70 WalloW in the mire of vulgarity
TO secure 4" laugh desecrates humor.
The motion picture has it's back
to the wall. In a half dozen States
and in the Nations Capital We are
struggling against adverse !egisla-
lion. The most valiant defense on
eArth. backed BY a united industry
will not avail unless We have the aid
OF public opinion. And public opin-
ion is formed of the conclusions
reached by the fathers and mothers
Who must see their sons and daugh-
ters contaminated by the touch of
the irresponsible producer
1t IS not the Cranks and reform
ers We have to fear, it's the crack
brains in our midst. who. either mad
with their own suddenly achieved
rower or avariciously grabbing for
The dollar. are willing to endanger
the prosperity OF all"