The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-08
COMMISSIONERS MAY STILL SEE
 FILM OF FIGHT
Pressure of Business Kept Those Willing to See Demp- Sey-Carpentier Picture
 Away Yesterday

Although members of the city commission were not present at the private showing of the Dempsey Carpenter fight films yesterday morning there is still a possibility that they will see a special run of the film.
 At an adjourned session of the commission this morning D. E. Me- Lendon, president of the city com mission, will ask the commissioners if they wish to see the film.
 If favorable expression is made by any number of the commissioners they will have the opportunity to G. Rudolph. who has charge of the pictures, and who states a special run of the film will be arranged.
 Pressure of business precluded the commissioners who had expressed willingness to see yesterdays show ing from attending the picture.
 McLendon Wants to See
 MT. McLendon states that he wishes to see the film, so 1t is very likely MT. Rudolph will arrange another special showing.
 MI ANtli H. " dlldCtt Cily ebAhoSC- ment inspector, explains her reason for not allowing the showing of the film in the city is due to the fact that it has not been approved by the National Board of Review of Mott on Pictures, and not having been ap- proved, she objects to 1t as being a picture of a fight.
 In this mornings Age Herald the reporter calls me censor,' she says in a statement.
 .I refuse to be called a censor. I am merely an inspector. who en- forces the law in regard to theatres.
 Believing as I do that it is bad for anyone to have too much power, I asked the former commission to pass an ordinance that any picture 1 passed by the National Board of Re- view of Motion Pictures should De passed by the inspector regardless of the personal opinion of the inspector.
 Personally, there are a number of cuts that 1 should have liked to make i in pictures shown here, but if there were no eliminations ordered by the | National Board l let them stand.
 Mine is ticklish job. I have had | too much experience to be glib about better pictures. You cannot see hun dreds of pictures in a year in l. criti- | cal spirit without understanding the magnitude. of the problem and l be- lieve that in dealing with the amuse- ment of the people, an official must l beware that he does not set his own | notions and prejudices up as stand ard for the masses of the American people.
 "The National Board of Review oi Motion Pictures, composed of over 200 representatives and cultured critics is a better judge of what is de- cent and wholesome for the peoplS than one individual.
 ,"However, when a picture is not passed by the National Board, l fee l free to act as an official and bal 1t if see fit
 ',The film of the prize fight can not sanction because l believe tha 1 chicken fights, bull fights. priz' i fights. duels and war are relics oi barbarism and should be thrown into ! the discard
 "I have no control over any other amusements except the theatres ant Fthe filma My power was limited DS myself in drawing the ordinance de' ! fining my. Jurisdiction because dlt | not feel that too much power should be invested in one person.
 II therefore have no control ovef prize fights themselves but only ovei pictures showing them The pictur' of the Dempsey -Carpentier fight hal not been passed by the Nationa Board of Review of Motion Pictures hence I feel free to bar it if l de i eide, after investigation as an ofii