Evening journal., 1922-06-17
Motion Pictures and Church
BY DEAN CHARLES N. LATHRoP,
OF the Social Service Commission Of the
EedaraI Council Of Churches.

BY DEAN CHARLES N. LATHRoP
OF the Social Service Commission Of the
Federal Council Of Churches.
This is the second of a series OF
articles summarizing study OF mo-
tion pictures made by the Social Ser
vice Commission OF the Federal Council
OF Churches II is a remarkable sur
vey OF conditions, and It's findings ana
conclusions are practical and sane. II
should be read not only by producers,
distributors and exhibitors, but also Dy
parents and all who attend motion PIC
ture performances.
Getting down 20 brass tacks. this
section of the study made of the mo-
ton picture situation in this country
by the Social Service Commission
of the Federal Council of Churches
of Christ in America points out va
rious problems 10 be faced in Sc
curing an Improvement in the char
acter Of the films shown.
As the exhibitOr-the local
"movie" house manager is the VS.
ible contact point of the motion
picture industry with the public,
the tendency is to think Of him at
once as the one 10 be brought under
government control. Although he
must operate under definite regu-
lation with respect to seating, light
ing, sanitation, fire prevention. ad-
mission Of children, type Of pro-
gram, to place the entire RESPONSE
bility upon him for the character
Of the pictures shown would be like
cleansing the stream at its mouth
instead of at its source.
The other agencies in the motion
picture business, the producer and
the distributor, must be regulated
II any real improvement is TO be
brought about. The scenario writ
ing is a very important factor IN
the character of mo-
ton pictures The producers have
been severely criticised for spending |
so much for star actors and ac-
tresses and so comparatively little
on the preparation of their see
narios, not securing the services OF
high-grade people.
The criticism of scenarios before
production has been tried, but with
3ut much success. So much depends
upon the staging Of the pictures
and the details of acting that
picture may be made or marred in
he production process.
After a picture is completed the
Expense involved in making changes
s an important item to consider.
film and restaging scenes ,
) costly. to say nothing of the H. !
lancial loss incurred when an en-
ire picture is barred from circu- =
alton. In voluntary review of cen ,
orship there develop at once very ,
cal limits to which an organization ;
an go in vetoing pictures or parts
( pictures and still retain the CO. j
peration of the producers.
Cutting out an Objectionable scene
lay mean a serious break in the
tory or the re-staging of the entire !
art. Revision of sub-titles some y
mes will so change the dramatic s
Ituation as to eliminate an objec- Q
onable feature. This is a simple I
natter from the standpoint OF ex- 6
ense. I
The Motion Picture Association (
roposed some time ago to furnish u
ompetent and technically exper-
.nced men who were in touch with I
ublic sentiment through the citizen I
gencies, to sit In with stage direc-
ors of the producing companies and
ffer constructive criticism while the
Genes were being arranged and pho
ographed. A number OF practical
ihiculties have interfered with the
unctioning OF this plan.
Individual judgment of motion ,
ictures varies so greatly on account ,
Z personal tastes and environment :
hat It is difficult to get even a small !.
roup TO agree on the probable infiu-
nee OF a picture, to say nothing of
Iaking the action OF either volun-
Try or official committees satisfao =
,ry to the public at large. 4
One would expect that high-mind- a
| people would readily agree as to II
neither a picture was a proper or a
l improper one for public consump- r.
on, but in actual practice we find u
Ie sharpest differences of opinion. 81
hen too, pictures, that may be en-
rely without offense to people ac- q
lstomed to the life OF a large city Il
bathing beach resort might 81
silly be highly Objectionable to an g
idience in a rural community or o.
! inland town.
The best that II seems possible ST
do is to lay down broad standards y