Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-12
2 THE EVENING LEDGER PHoToPLAY
THE PHOTOPLAY WORLD
AS SEEN BY AN OUTSIDER
An Industry of No Past, Prosperous Present and
an Apparently Bright Future Shortcomings
Criticised Censorship in the Making
By EDGAR MELS
- ----A AAL-l-4D
PhotoBIoy Editor Of EDenino Iedoer.

FhotoDtou bdit0T g
MOTION pictures have no tangible
4N1 past. They are too new to be classed
with the hoGry drama They are Of to-
cay ultra modern and, as a direct eonse-
euenee, as yet uniformed and intangible
insofar as their artistic status is con-
eerned. But this does not alter the self
evident fact that the photoplay is here;
that II VIII stay and that il has estab- |
hshed itself firmly in the hearts Of mil
Hons
But-and this but is all important-the
photoplay, 70 keep the envIable position
1t has won for itself in hair decade,
MUST not stand still; must not retro
grade The photoplay must advance in
scope, In its mummery; in its artistry; its
photography and, above all, its cleanIi-
ness.
When the motion picture was born a
dozen or more years ago, there was no
standard by which Il could be measured
or guided Il was then merely pleasant
diversion, with no financial or CONNER
cal Btsnding-R babe in arms with no
past and 3 very problematical future.
Ehens with amazing rapidity, It grew into
. youthful giant, larger than its mother,
tae orama- Soon II became a thing long
In legs and arms, sinuous OF body, but
with little brain % direct its erratic move
ments.
The result was that fy-by-night aim
eonpanies EpranE up in all directions
Many corporations were mere stoCk-iob-
hing schemes 20 n1ulct the elillIble public
But WorBe than this, films Of dubious
value, inarttsnc, vulgar, and even border
ing on the obscene, were produced. As a
matter Of natural sequence, there came
censorship. and with censorship an abuse
rN Nrara - ~,
censors
Now the photoplay world is on the
Ihreshhold of biE thingB-its future Is alb
soiutely IN It's own hands. II It SO wills
WI i've and prosper. II Il chooses il
WI commit m1usiihahle suicide No one
man can stay the verdict The entire
MIN world-manufacturer. exchange man
and exhibitor viii be responsible for the
nusl Judgment OF the great amusement
loving public
Some Weak Spots
Nothing Is perfect; neither is the film.
rev nims pass the muster OF critical scru-
tiny. Stanley MAstbaum, who controls the
bookings OF &C theatres in PHILADELPHIA
demands just criticisms OF films produced
IL has houses BE is one of the few man.
ayers wise enough to realize that tht
photoplay must be treated as is Ia,
spoken play Honest criticism cannot
hurt any nlm- but tinctured praise is more
uAaLn apt 70 cause the producer to con
unue along the wrong pathway
Following Mr.. Mastbaum's suggestion
let us pass into the beautiful Arcadi,
Tneatrs The Famous PLAYERS ''Tb
Moth and the Flame" is on the screen
Why does the audience laugh at the mos
pathetic scenesI Because Of bad stag
management Every time the villain /
foiled, the hapless heroine drops into tn
ready arms OF cne omnipresent hero-eve
n the right spot TO receive her fairyliI0
form
Let Us pass into the Chestnut Stree
Opera House tclosed through misjudg
ment Of what the public wanted) Their
ne see The Heart OF Maryland" Mrs
Leslie Carter. cd, heshy and amateurish
enacts r0e role Of q Sa-year-old girl Nor
bad castng-bad type-bad judgment
And 30 we might visit every theatre 4
TIE city and find that the photoplay ,
1couth as yet-unformed, with roug
edges.
But II Is not always bad STAGE manage
ment ortsa It y bad taste. Scenes Q
horror are too long drawn out TAX
Grimth'E The Avengtng Conscience.
There b one succession OF horrors, wit
no RELIEF Talze the Chaplin comedie.
Many OF them are vulgar IN the extreme
but ''the public wants it," SAYS some one
The public does NOT want vulgarit,
Many an Endftor has laughed at Char
nn's antics. slapsticky though they ma
be, only 30 end up with deserved crit
iclsm OF ''unnice'' moments.
The Question Of Censorship
This brings us to the censorship uues
ton. Every manufacturer with whom
have spoken agrees that some sort q
sane censorship b useful In curling IN
average director, But such censorshi
must be sane and fair and free froI
the personal snimosity which has actu
ated many boards OF censors in the mas
Siegnund Lubin, IA discussing this mat
ter a. Reading on Tuesday last, declare
that he for one favored fair. honest Ger
sorship, provided the censors were broad
minded
Where, though. rs the censor who
hroad-minded7 Is q censor who SEE
Wicl1ednesz IN everything the right ma