The New York herald., 1922-01-22
High Lights and
ShadOWS on Mems
of Motion Pictures
Influence of Censorship Par
ticularly Noticeable in
Serial Films.
by FRANK vREELAND.

* motion picture executives that
censorship has not had any
marked effect on the character of
thear pictures, -aside from the moral
threat, OF course" inspection Of films
by supervisory bodies in various States
unquestionably has done more than to
place the name of the censoring body
in the introduction to a photoplay,
along with the director, the art direct
or, the costume designer. the camera
man, the chief property man and other
dignitaries Of the screen world except
the pie maker by appointment to
Mack Sennett. The influence of CEN
sorship IS most evident in the style
of serials under the new dispensation,
for the serial as turned out by the
principal purveyors of this type OF
weekly anguish has decided to be good
and yet make virtue pay.
The greatest offense in the past was
generally considered to have been de-
rived from the cinema sausage. They
and too many heads were knocked in
for the taste OF most persons. little
OF that usually goes long way. but the
serials were inclined to go farther. In
stead of acting. they placed their chief
reliance on blank cartridges. Moreover,
children were among the mos. assiduous
students of serials, having the most
leisure to have their feelings torn to
shreds regularly every week. But 1t
was regarded as bad for children to get
the notion that shooting Is one of the
main pursuits OF mankind.
Hence--so a large degree-censorship
and the permanent, ingrowing frown on
film oniciais But now the serials have
seen the light and re'o-med at gallop.
They are not s6vsytisi-g that fact un-
duly, bu. they a-e fo'ls1wing the lead OF
breweries and talfine much of the pro-
hibitive kick out % serials. These pic
lures have svAr changed their names
and assured ths more gilt edged title
Of "cbar.ey play," which somehow Is
considarsc 90 overflow with dignity.
Paul Bru.et, heac OF Pathe, says that
his company VIII hereafter in Its serials
shun gun play as something harmful.
This idea "a being carried out in White
Eagle and Hurricane Hutch" the two
latest cnrtrihut ons by Pathe to life on
the installp,ent plan. Vitagraph. an
other stanch supporter of the system OF
letting thrills trichle out week by week.
IL likewise keeping its products or the
firing line. But perhaps the most sig
nal example OF this effect of censorship
is shown in the picture with Stanley
In Africa" produced by Universal, the
film beehive which drips serials ike
honey.
THIS picture now being released, with
George walsh and Louise Lorraine
stretched through eighteen episodes, con-
fines most OF its expenditure OF ammuni-
ton to anin,ais--but then, who mourns
when a lion bites the dust? Much or the
data and thousands of feet OF film re-
yealing actual conditions in Africa were
acquired at first hand when Universal
sent a Smithsonian expedition into the
d ark continent two years ago, and all
these celluloid secrets have hitherto been
kept looted away in the bosom OF UNI
versal. So that the spectator Is apt to
see authsrtic bits OF scenery woven into
the hor-r made variety and real animals
scratching themselves.
or course, as the story OF Henry NJ.
Stanley's search for the explorer David
Livingstone at the head OF THE NEW
York HERALD expedition sent out by
James Gordon Bennett Is based on STAN
ley's book "How l Found Livingstone"
there are occasional brushes with ma
tives in the picture-but that Is history,
and no one tries TO expurgate standard
history. At least. no one who has
listened 70 the recent debates before the
Board OF Education on school text books.
But Universal has sought to emphasize
the educational value of the picture
rather than its assassination possioili-
ties as shown in the following notice
sent to exhibitors:
"It will prove to you and to millions
OF fans that the wax mustachioed VIII
lain, the foolish hero and their silly,
suggestive scenes are dead forever
buried in tho dim and distant past. In
their place Universal has evolved clean,
thrilling, historical chapter. plays In
stead OF opposing serials. censors pa
rents and teachers are now boosting
these new chapter plays"
All of which isn't grease from the
press agents frying pan. as such state
ments often are. The worth Of such Of
ferings was amply demonstrated by the
preceding Universal serial, "The Win
ming of the West" In which not gun
was fired save in the cause OF history.
ABOUT GsUVU letters were IeCtlNtu iTOln
school principals and teachers telling
how much this picture meant In their
young lives-the lives OF their pupils,
that is. And In return for this COM
mendation Universal IS sending to It's
exhibitors half-sheet posters TO be stuck
UP in schoolrooms showing Stanley's
route and the various animals and saw
ages encountered, which makes the or
dlnary map look like a pale dress pat
tern.
Universal "a so wrapped up I'm his
tory now that II has discovered its ex-
istence and its dime winning possibili-
ties, that It will promulgBte two more
pictures OF the same style. Robinson
Crusoe" and The Days OF Buffalo Bill"
starting with the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln. So far, however, II. @.
Wells has not been engaged 20 write
these new outlines OF history.
Turn 20 the Right" which Metro
will uncoil at the Lyric tomorrow eve
ming. is planned by the film company to
be the first among several Rex Ingram
cinema ventures which II will project at
New York IN that theatcr. II this ver-
sion OF the John Golden stage comedy
goes over with the phenomenal success
Of the peach Jam In the play Itself Il
s expected that Il win he followed here
by THE Prisoner Of Zenda," likewise
directed by ingram. from the story and
play by Anthony Hope. which made u.
II. Sothern spring 20 the fore as ro-
mantle actor with the resliency Of rub
Der heels Miss Alice Terry, who was
- a..