The Washington herald., 1916-09-22
Picture Play Censorship.

~ShcokS
Mayor Curley, of Boston, proposes 100000
civil suit for libel and an action for criminal
libel because of criticism directed at him for a
recent visit to Senator Boies Penrose, of Pennsyl
vania, in the interest of moving picture pro-
moter exploiting film upon which various State
censors cannot agree. #
The picture deals with birth control, and
while approved by the Boston censors failed to
win the appreciation of the Pennsylvania super
visors of screen attractions Mayor Curley ac-
cordingy came to Washington visited the Key
stone State Republican leader told him that the
presentation of the film developed criticism
in Boston, and suggested that he write letter
to those in authority in Pennsylvania to the
end that the adverse decision on the picture play
might be reversed. In justification of his actions
the mayor added that his sole desire was to help
out friend who had a financial interest in the
film and that he not acting in his capacity
as mayor He denied any mercenary interest in
the success of the screen play.
Some newspapers placed what Mayor Curley
calls damaging Interpretation his activities
and the libel actions are the result Without at
tempting to discuss the propriety of his action,
it may be cited to sustain the argument that the
censorship laws Of the country not such as
to benefit the industry they designed to
protect
Many States have failed to find objection to
the hlm classic known as "The Birth of Ma
ton" Other States have ruled that it excites
race prejudice and have forbidden its exhibition.
These latter States, in many instances, have
found nothing detrimental to public morals in
the birth control film.
1t is easy to understand why the film pro-
ducers ask for stability and some fixed standard
to which they conform in the manufacture
-;
short haired women comprise the boards of
censorship for moving pictures in some COM
munities. They take it that such service auto
matically places in their care the morals of the
public and their decisions are given with
view to having the public accept their individual
opinion as to what constitutes right and wrong
rather than what the laws and city ordinances
prescribe.
In other cities a more liberal and sane CEN
sorship prevails The censors realize that Just
so long and women are human Just so
long will vice and virtue be factors in every
day life, and just so long will the eye of the
camera, if its purpose is to depict humanity and
its problems they exist, unfold stories that
are not pleasing to the supersensitive.
The whole question is in the motive that
underlies the conception of the film. Some things
are better left unflmed, but the producer who
depends upon the suggestive and plainly indecent
feature to bring returns is building upon un-
certain prospects which certain TO crumple in
the end An overwhelming majority of the men
in the moving picture business would be the
hrst to condemn in a practical way such an
effort to appeal to the plainly immoral
There too many millions invested in this
amusement industry to risk the irreparable injury
that will follow the manufacture and exploitation
of films that offend public decency Because of
the immense sums invested there is every reason
why these business should be given uniform
protection and regulations that will not leave
them at the mercy Of faddists or men and
women OF extreme thought on questions of public
morals.