New-York tribune., 1916-01-22
Plays and Players
of the Film World

President Wilson will be tho guest
OF honor at the first annual dinner Of
the Motion Picture Board OF Trade TO
be held on next Thursday at the Hotel
Bltmore. While the President Is
speaking motion picture cameras will
grind away and will depict him on film,
so that future generations may note
how n President looked AZ motion
picture dinner. J. Stuart Blackton, of
Vitagraph. will preside. Among the
other speakers will be Dudley Field
Malone, Collector Of this Port.
Among those invited are two sdmi-
rails, a general, several judges mot Of
motion pictures). mere editors and a
number OF what, for lack OF a better
name, shall he dubbed authors-of
photoplays, as distinguished from
plays, novels, stories, articles, etc.
]. Louis Breitinger, Pennsylvania
State motion picture censor, has turned
down "Llfe without Soul.' an Ocean
Film Company picture. featuring
Frankenstein. The film world is aston
ished. AS the picture was passed by the
Chicago censors.
That the great moral lessons Of life
can be taught more effectively through
the medium of the motion picture than
through the pulpit was the contention
Of Walter ". Irwin, chairman Of the
executive committee OF the Motion
Picture Board of Trade. general man
ager Of the Nitagraph Lu bln-Seilg
Fssanay, Inc He spoke before tne
House Committee on Education at the
hearing on the Hughes smith bill pro-
vding for Federal censorship OF the
screen Mr. Irwin asserted what Is
told may be misunderstood or mlsih-
terpreted, because Of the lack or men
tality of the hearers. but that the
picture carries its message preciseiy
as intended, the eye conveying IL 10
the brain almost without mental oper-
alton.
because OF the principles Of Amer
lean freedom, upon which this govern
ment was founded" said Mr.. irwin,
neither the editor, sculptor, song
writer nor painter is compelled 70 pre-
sent himself at Police Headquarters
before his work is issued. On the con
trary, his publication Is permitted
without restraint, and thereafter ne ls
held responsible. Why, then, should
the motion picture be differentiated
Mr.. Irwin contended that the screen
had gained large share Of its inhu-
ence upon the public because 1t hsd
not only met public requirements Tor
morality. but had actually been In ad-
vance oi them, presenting strong oo.
iect lessons by which the morals or
society were raised instead or de-
graded.
in places where legalizcd censor,
shin "a imposed upon the people SAID
Mr.. Irwin. "the conduct OF the censor
demonstrates conclusIyely that thelr
acts are based on prejudice and intoi-
erance born of ignorance, malice, spite
or jealousy. In Ohio great picture
OF the life Of Christ was utterly de-
| stroved OF it's value by the elimiqation
of the crucfxion. one censor made
this eliminatiou--a woman. Her rea-
son for so doing was that 1t was TOO
/ horrible. .,.,.
"ln Pennsylvania the value OF 'Ihs
/ Battle Cry Of Peace, a picture showing
the invasion Of New York City by
| foreign enemy and demonstrating the
defcnceless condition OF our city, was
almost destroyed by the censors order
/ inc that there be stricken out the scene
which depicted the greatest lesson OF
/ the entire picture.
Have we not the same rlght 10
rreach national defence in picture
as is possessed BY the editor OF a
uewspaper? Shall vehicle OF thought
transmission which viii 20 "A long way
| toward promoting proper recogh iVh
/ Of the need for adequate defence De
denied upon the arbitrary whlm OF
| few individuals who 90 not agree Win
"Freedom OF thought and freedom OF
tie press were gained only after years
Of darkness and the shedding OF mueh
| blood. Are we 20 submit ourselves 70
! the conditions existing to-day IN nus
| sia2 Are we not held thoroughly re-
sponsible for our acts under eNlsting
| laws? lnnumerable instances can De
Given 20 show that the manufacturer
of pictures is held thoroughly subject
10 the law. Censorship means the RUE
of many BY the few One Of the causes
Of the founding Of this Republic was 20
escape censorship-in other WORDS,
tolerance. Let Us not step backward
Motion pictures have accomplished
another feat they have created a de
mand for bald headed men. Bald heSos