Evening star., 1919-05-11
k1lIlIgQDlQntS
The PhotoPlay q

- HlcNlHS piCtuie ihuuStiN dS
means not only of popu-
lar enter; ;sinnnent. but OF
practical publicity has Gre
stcd some interesting responsibilities
which thc film managers are "ndeaV-
oring to meet. The old question Of
definition. which lies az the basis of
almost every controversy. asserts it
self The question IS. What consti-
-tutes Az oGanse against public pro-
pricty." y - not slwaEs easy 10 dis
5rrin7irate IN Studying the announce
rlerts MAD" avsiiahie for PRINT by
motion picture literai between decia-
rations .of serious, cors .stent poiicE
atid suggestions whose function is not
expected 10 go beyond spirited DIS
CuSs ION OF some toolC which VIII ln-
we iuteres. and arouse inquisitive
attention
=. x y !:
The latest sensation lis provided by
bulletin from the National Associa-
tion Of The -iutlon Picture Industry
tienoUurjrr the exhibition of health
prcya So iiUia .Ilrs originally made Tor
purposes az education end reminder
of III" necessity of clean living. me
association takes the view hat these
films were made for sp'c.al and
cumpara lively limited public. First
of all. for the Young men VINO lett
home restraints and influences to join
the Army and the Navy. 4 protest IL
reg stored against thei" exhibition
commercially 10 mixed audiences. II
is claimed that when thus shown
they become mere appeals to mcrbid
nd unW hol esonG- curiosity. 1t is the
announced intention however. to de-
pend upon the produce alI dstrib-
utter members oe he assoc alton and
TO prevent the puU'iC eEI biz :on OF
fi'ms. which tn. cia~st-v as OBJ
noXjcus. Exhib. ors who ~ is. depend
upon the asSociS: .o1 70" i2r-e pro-
portion of their ti--.- @-p i.;lely to
find themselves Lcund to o-,espect the
opinions of the 9tt,ona! association
as to what cons. tcJe; sn objection
-anle subject rot '.0iE with reference
10 the output % lsSoCis ioE members,
but of all Independent. producers.
After the Is: OF ,,f-a-. aSsoc!a lien pro-
ducerS will refuS- - furnish any of
their product for exhibition in any
thester showing Inns d;sapproved by
the national ASSOCIATION.
In th,s come. u Z lie question Of
picture word Ia -aEen Ee-y much
to heart. ireri ably arises The ma
tional associat o. wi!i require its
nenbersE.o 10 assist and cooperate
with the proper authority in any legal
proceedings 10 discourage immoral
films.
RCT-
The association "rea firms its un-
elterabie opposition TO any form of
1eEalized censorship Of motion pic
lures prior to the:~ exhibition"
The plans 20 to~estaiI legaliZed
censorship fall IN Ire with tine cur
rent tendency TO demand an amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
states to meet each civic and social
emergency. The association is to en-
amendment to, the Constitution of
the United States prohibiting the en-
forcement of any law abridging the
freedom of expression through the
m edium of the motion picture. The
freedom CT the motion pictures is to
he made es invtolate freedom of
speech or freedom OF the press. The
association further invites the CO.
operation of Congress. after declar-
ing itself the supreme authority in
discriminating between what ia vi
cious and what is benign by calling
for the passage of law amending
the existing law against transmits
sion by mail of indecent pictures so
as to clearly include the prohibiting
nf a like transmission of obscene or
Indecent motion pictures.
This concluding thought seems very
jeftly to split hairs and an inhnitive
with one stroke of the pen. The as
sumption that photoErap phs on films
naay'not he subject to the same rigor-
Gus regulations that apply to photo
graphs on cardboard. or anv other
substance reveals talent for rare
ricetv in distinction and implies
resource fuloess on the part of motion
picture legal talent qualified to com
pete with that of the scenario writ
ers themselves. The motion picture
association. which claims 95 per cent
Of the recognized producers of screen
stories. leaves little doubt of it's con-
yIction that censorship is desirable.
hut leaves omen the question whether
IL should be dependent entirely on the
authority Of the producers themselves.
however distinguished may be their
record a : promoters and protectors OF
innocence in matters of public enter
taiuNent. O.
Your Eyes" was shown to an invited
members of the ned cal profession
end of the cle-gy last Thursday after
noon and will he presented at pS'-
~ate showing hefore the National
Press club next Wednesday night. Its
first presentation - the general pub
Tic will be in Washiuston and II is the
rl.n Of state health film and the
United States public health service to
show the pictures to separate au-
dIeuces Of men and women. This is oc-
casioned by the character OF the sub
tect and not by the manner OF its
treatment; and is prompted by a de-
fancy in viewing feature upon which
the United states government urges
universal attendance.