The Washington herald., 1921-02-13
Film Forces Howl
For New Moses as
Censorship Nears
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

years back, but-far worse!-cor-
rupted nearly all the current crop
OF hctionists.
TOR the same inexplicable reason,
the movies seem incapable Of
resenting such erratic admin
istration Of the moral code that
makes 1t unlawful to show a daring
bit Of screen lingerie and yet toler-
ates a play like Eugene O'NeNfs
'Dinrent." which Louis V. Defoe, Of
the New York World, sums up as "a
study in sex psychology that Is
nothing more than a pathologic hor-
ror. cruel, repulsive and un-
profitable, that serves no purpose OF
instruction and entertainment and
that, from any point OF view, is an
affront to delicacy and taste.
which analyses the diseased crav-
ings resulting from repressed pas
sion"
This mysterious cowardice OF the
movie industry to even protect it.
self, has been one of its besetting
sins from the beginning. Early in
the game, IT weakly assented to the
first species OF censorship imposed
upon it by a sewing circle consti-
tuency and the same cowardice,
magnined as the industry has
grown. has multiplied its evils
without the slightest opposition.
This is Inherently bad, it is only
a question Of time until the films
reach an artistic stage where they
will command the attention of the
classes as well as the masses and
then censorship will become a nui-
sance as we'll as an annoying stu
pidity. Many Of US, possibly, dep
recate the unhindered publication
Of sex magazines or the production
Of plays of the type of "Diff'rent,"
yet a moments thought will bring
a sense Of qualification that CEN
sorship has wormed itself no further,
comparatively speaking, than the
pictures.
One does not have to read sex
magazines nor does one have to
watch plays like "Diff'rent," any-
more than one need spend. against
ones will, a half-hour at the nearest
morgue. But as a matter of artistic
principle, one should always have
access to such plays, such magazines
and good morgue should one so
desire, simply for no greater or
lesser reason than the fact that
qualification of the adult artistic
sense, no matter how seemingly ex-
otic or unusual, should be legally
vested in something more funda-
mental than the latest COPY of the
police regulations
Here is where the danger lies in
the Grass opportunism and stupid
e1pediency these leaders of the film
industry are now betraying. Men
like Griffith have clearly demon
strated the right of the pictures tn
use the expression art" and ~ is
20 be expected that, little by LITTLE
the nlm artistic level must rise
Tnus becomes apparent the neces-
aeY Ior more vigorous handling
e bad situation; for If Brady ana
Aaznpton continue their dolorops
howlings, they'll simply make ridic.
ulously easy the throttIinr tactic.
Or professional ethic- mongers OF tbn
Srafts ilk, who, II not CLOSELY
watched, will set back for an in,
definite and disastrous period a vaIu-
able form Of artistic expression ana
reduce the screen reproduction Of
stua like Flaubert's "Salsmmbo, {"
eeen'S uAosts- or evan ONefTs
De0rWe 10 the bpua Il . ponc.
nIBooca ex1e1oxun
tns remedy for an rAds snsoksr.
Ensswnsefag and ehoo-Hokiny on
the pss< - IA rseorners = a.pae