New-York tribune., 1921-08-07
By Maud Robinson Toonabs

By Maud Robinson Toonbs
~ N AUGUST Is every censorship board
in the United States and Canada will
be represented at Universal City,
Calf, in response to an invitation by
Carl Laenlmle, president of the Universal Film
Company, to hold convention there with the
west coast producers.
And for what reason?
So that the different producers, who are now
waiting, scissors in hand, to cut certain big
films, may know just where they stand, as the
present censor rulings are much like the d.
Vorce laws, and vary in every state, SO that
tho puzzled producer either leaves too much
in or cuts too much out and ruins his film.
No Uniformity Exists
In Censorship
what am going to do," says Laemmle, "is
to try to open the door and let the light Of
common sense and Of common understanding in
upon the movie situation. In spite of every
effort which has been made, producers do not
yet know what all the boards insist on, and
there Is no uniformity in the many state and
city board decisions. If this meeting brings
the censors themselves together, so that their
rulings are more in conformity, it will be very
helpful, and if producers, directors, scenario
writers and authors can be shown what is and
what is not admissible much time, money and
effort can be saved. In our case we have
tremendous amount of real--not press agent
money-ted up in Foolish Wives our big
tweve-reel picture for the fall. All the cutting
mas TO be done at the coast, so that if any Of
tae scenes have to be retaken such scenes can
Do Shot Immediately, before we destroy the
very expensive sets copying the city of Monte
.aflo, which it has taken US many months to
build
neheve the time has come to stop fight
ing. Directors and scenario writer's. as we'll
Us producers, must realize that censorship has
'ome TO stay, and the censors will realize.
alser they have had chance to see pictures
III Inc making, that too drastic cutting will
'esuis In making movies SO dull that no one
WAL want to go and see them. believe that
more complete understanding will be
brought about through the meeting which I
suggest"
Inc censors themselves seem to agree with
laemmle, as their acceptance show that thev
"ppleciate his sporting spirit and they are
s,S s,au 70 nave the opportunity to learn about
,@safe making. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Mary
'A"u' Aansas and the cities of Detroit, Kan
SA' Oiey, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal
sau 'ne National Board of Review are we'll
''.e foreground, not to speak Of the newly
sfponaled New York censors. who have iust
received their invitations
ing itself: '' ''''''0 ''iuuS''s ~ AK
awb.4 g
""a' are they going to do to us?"
m.. p'ooucer who does not want to be
,sV,ea Tor obvious reasons expressed himself
follows: 0o
.o,,. " ~nl De good thing if it only shows
W. our directors what We are up against.
and ',, ",is and we wire to some of those birds
sls 80 s'ey Go Is to let the night letter blanks
~ sS va 70 the floor and keep on shooting miles
and .0,aee winch we can't get by the censors
dow ""'ch they know we can't. The scenario
n'e'i' h -. Is Just as bad Each writer wants
az -, 90 many thrills in his magnum opus
on,;.s esSoie regardless of how they hit the
,enss y. frog Hollow, which, naturally. the
sss' ss0's nave to look out for We're sick of
sns s * our money for ego and temperament
his IVA, ms want to get down to brass tacks on
cutting proposition"
s,aa ne trouble seems to be more than mov;a
Ia ,s.0H ;sa 1t deals with human nature and
sAoarht 20, % right and wrong. What is
nsuld .. mNAed IN little revivalist center,
1'alnly not be considered so In New