Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-27
"FA1TY,- FILMDoM AND RE-
FORM

A. the time FATTY" Arbuckle's
screen publicity gave place to court
publicity it was rumored that many
dollars had been invested in films in
which FATTY" prominently figured
and that the consequent loss would
he very considerable. Mr.. Hays and
others who are trying to bring
"Fatty" back are, so far as we can
learn. saying nothing about TINS
financial feature. They would have
us believe that in the Christmas sea-
SON when the heart turns to good Will
toward men it would be very fitting
to stretch the mantle to cover the
corpulent Arbuckle.
We are somehow impressed with
the idea that he Jared extremely well
at the hands of the court; that as an
insurance risk and an uplifter or
mankind he would function best to
the advantage of all concerned IN
some out -door occupation such as
ditching q bog or extracting stumps.
We have heard no longing expressed
for his return to the screen, but we
are not in the way of hearing what
the fellows, who have money tied up
in Fatty" Arbuckle films, may say.
We presume Mr.. Hays is. And while
he may assure himself that he speaks
in "Fatty's" behalf solely at the
dictates of his kind impulse, others
may be excused for taking different
view of the matter.
He seems to have overlooked
very important feature. In his ef-
fort to give filmdom good name
and secure public approval, he
would, at the outset, Danish the fear
of consequences from the realm of
Hollywood He would establish, as
might happen affecting the reputa-
ton of an actor the public should
How much the alarming spread OF
lawlessncss in this country is due to
such sloppy sentimentalsm one may
not know, nevertheless feel sure that
it is in no slight degree. 1t is dis
played in many walks of life, il
characterizes altogether too many
pardons. Once the kind mother gave
little Willie to understand that if he
loitered on his way home from school
he would go to bed supperless. Now
adays some, who think themselves
kind mothers, receive him with tears
and lavish regard and inspire him
with a conceited notion of his i'm
rortance. No doubt Hollywood would
like to be reformed this way. 1t
would serve to tickle vanity and give
free publicity. All would wish to
share in the fatted calf.
Mr.. Hays has had much to say
about films with repute like unto
NoS"ol . "iie, ABOUT making the
MIN censor unnecessary, and all that.
He will indeed be a superman if he
succeeds in doing all this by methods
such as he uses with regard to Ar
buckle. We would not expect a
great business institution depending
on the public's patronage to UNDER
take such a risk. If Hays succeeds
In bringing 'IFatty's" leer back to
screenland and the public stands for
1t there will have been demonstrated
an actual need Of the film censor In
other words, Mr.. Hays will have
proved that which he has been trv.
ing to disprove.
About the only thing which we can
nnd'to say favorable to Mr.. Havs in
ahis matter is that he has not at-
empted to "sneak" Fatty" back: he
mas come out openly and laid the
proposition face up. on the table
While there is something brazen in
this attitude we think on the whole
1t Is preferable to any attempt which
might have been made to resume the
Arbuckle Aims without public notice
OF purpose to do 50.