Arizona republican., 1921-02-05
MoUies and Morals
by FREDERIC j. HASKIN

MODIeS and Morals
BY FREDERIC j. HASklN
NEW YORK CITY, Feb. 2-Just as
the churches some time ago decided
that they could not get along without
the movies, so the movies have now de-
cided that they cannot get along with
out the churches. Thus, a new and
unexpected friendliness has very re-
Gently developed between the cloth
and the film. Movie producers are seen
arm and arm in deep confab with emf
nent preachers; film stars are being
photographed by their press agents
while attending church services, and
moving picture studios are opening
wide their doors to visiting parties of
missionaries and deacons.
The cause of this large and sudden
fraternal spirit sponsorship. The
connection may not be at once ap-
parent, but 1t Is easily explained.
All their lives the movies have hated
and feared censorship. All their lives
they have fought 1t bitterly, obsti-
nately and unremittingly. Yet censor
ship of moving pictures has never been
totally vanquished. Various states
have continued to keep 1t clearly in
mind while congress has an annoying
way of bringing the matter up in idle
moments, with remarks about the adj
visibility of a national censors' bureau.
But, worst of all, the reformers have
recently opened their 1921 campaign
with an eloquent attack upon present
day film standards and an emphatic
demand for nation wide censorship.
Now, the movies are just as deter
mined as ever that their business Is
not going to be supervised by some gov
eminent agency at Washington. But
experience has taught them that fight
ing accomplishes little good, that, YER
lily, it is the meek who inherit the
earth and that there is much to be
said in favor of complete disarnl0-
ment. So they are addressing the re-
formers in this subtle WISE.
I'VE know that there is great room
for Improvement in our film products.
We know as well as you do that they
are rather saturated with sex, but we
can also prove to you, by the size of
the moving picture box office receipts
| that sex saturation pays. and 1t is
therefore what the public wants. How
ever, we will make this proposition:
| We will guarantee TO make clean.
wholesome film dramas, fully clothed
and perfumed, if you will guarantee
in return to get the public TO come
| and see them"
Petticoat Control
| For the benefit of the women of the
nation who are recognized leaders in
the campaign for better moving pic
lures, the movies have adopted the
simple. nomely phrase. cleaning
house" They are going to clean house
/ throughout the industry, and the wom-
] ems clubs and the churches and the
| Girl Scouts and the Campfire Girls
! and the Jewish Big Sisters and the Y.
w. c. A. are going 10 help them to
| do it
All of the0e agencies have recently
7 N a s0a RRfteT
Pictures. with a headquarters her in
! New York and with some of the city 5
! best known society women on its honor
! airy list. Mrs. Oliver Hartman, Mrs
| Lewis Governeur Morris, Mrs. James
Lees L.aidlow, Mrs. Winifred Sackvflle
| Stoner, Mrs. Charles L. Tiffany, Mrs
Arthur Choate and Mrs. James Speyer
are all interested in the movement.
The idea is to make the League for
Better Pictures an unofficial bureau OF
censorship, although the word censor
ship is fully avoided. Its offices will,
| become a general clearing house for
complaints, suggestions and approvals
| 1t will have it's own projection room
for showing pictures, to which all NOV
ing picture producers interested in the
plan will send their products. Mem
bers of the league win be notified
| when a picture is to be shown, ano
when an audience of censors is gath
cred together, cards will be passed
around upon which each person watch
ing the film Will write his or her opin-
ion.
Later these cards VIII be collected
like ballots from jury, and the gen.
eral verdict rendered on the picture
If 1t is merely passable it will simply
receive the o. X. of the league. Ii /
is Objectionable no comment at all viii
be made. And if it is particularly gooe
it will be decorated by a medal of the
league really very nice medal, de-
signed by Gutzon Borglum.
At this point the projection room o.
the league in New York fades out ano
the scene shifts to the headquarters O.
any women's club anywhere in th'
United States. All the housewives
and prominent women of the com
munity are listening with gratifying
interest to an eminent clergyman OF
the platform, who is explaining VIII!
people should go to see only moving
pictures that have received the en-
dorsement of the Better Pictures
League.
Get Preachers Support
The O. h. OF the league is abso
luteIy to be trusted he asserts posi-
lively, and hence this picture. 1 fee
sure. may be seen with perfect safet,
by any member of my congregation
or anybody else's congregation. I car
] more than recommend the picture be
ginning at the same theater next week
as it has received the medal of In