The Monmouth inquirer., 1922-06-15
HAYS DEMANDS
PURIFIED MOVIES
Producers and Distributors Co.
operate With Director in Effort
to Censor Their Own Films.
ENTIRE INDUSTRY ADMoNIsHED
New Plays Will Be Test of the SIN
cerity of the Heads of This Gigantic
Business-Director Who Trans
gress Face Discharge.


monition, which in many respects may
be classed as an ultimatum, to the
moving picture industry TO clean up
the films and keep them in that delect-
able condition is contained In letter
by Will H. Hays to the following mem
bers of the Motion Picture Producers
and Distributors of America:
William Fox, Fox Film Corporation;
Frank J. Godsol, Goldwyn Distributing
Corporation; Earl W. Hammons, Edu-
cational Film Exchanges, Inc; Carl
Laemmle, Metro Pictures Corporation; I;
John NJ Quinn, vitagraph Inc; Lewis
]. Selznick, Select Pictures Corpora
ton; AdoIph Zukor, Famous Players
Lasky Corporation, and Joseph Nj.
Schenck, Joseph NJ. Schenck Produc-
tions.
The association represents between
20 and so per cent of all moving pic
lures made in this country.
The ultimatum has been posted IN
all studios in this city and Los Angeles,
calling upon the entire industry to
assist in eliminating Objectionable fea-
lures. In each company Mr.. Hays
letter was accompanied by letter
from the head of the concern. Some
letters intimate that any employee
who fails to live up to the spirit and
letter of the dictum will be dismissed.
1t was intimated that this letter of
Mr.. Hays, which is printed peiow, is
the last word to few directors whose
pictures have been questionable, and
that failure to comply with the new
rule would mean dismissal from the
industry:
know that none of us are unmind-
full of the objects of the Motion Pic
ture Producers and Distributors OF
America, Inc, as definitely stated II
the Articles of Association as follows
1.-THE object for which the corpora
tion is to be created is to foster the
common interest of those engaged In
the motion picture industry in the
United States, by establishing and
maintaining the highest possible moral
and artistic standards in motion pic
ture production, by developing the edu-
cational as well as the entertainment
motion picture, by diffusing accurate
and reliable information with refer
ence to the industry, by reforming
abuses relative to the industry, by Sc
| curing freedom from unjust or unlawful
exactions, and by other lawful and
proper means"
We are all familiar, too, with the
efforts being made by all to carry out
these objects and, personally, ] thor
oughly appreciate the cooperation
which is being given by everybody.
1t is impossible, of course, to over
estimate the Importance of the imme-
diate application of these purposes in
connection with the production whicn
is now in process for next season. 1t
is to this that want most earnestly to
call your attention.
We can make the greatest immedi-
ate progress in establishing and main
artistic standard of motion picture pro-
duction," If those charged with sthe
responsibilities in connection with the
production now in progress make GER
tain that they do strive for this very
thing. We are giving and we must give
preferred attention to these purposes
right now in the pictures which are
now being made. Every day there is
opportunity in the studios to take that
action which will more and more elm
mate the Objectionable features and
nearer and nearer reach the "highest
possible moral and artistic standard"
These pictures which are being made
now and which will be made this sum-
mer, are being made after we have
agreed to use our best efforts to attain
the purposes of the association, and
our responsibility for these pictures
cannot be avoided.
These pictures now being made will
come out soon and they Will be the
proof either of our honesty of purpose
or of our failure; they will be the
proof either of our ability to correct
our evils ourselves, or of our Inability
to run our own business. There is
nothing in which we can possibly De
engaged which is of as much impor-
tance to the success of our efforts
as to make certain that these very pic
lures, the first pictures made after the
organization of the association, shall
clearly show successful effort to-
ward establishing and maintaining
the highest possible moral and artistic
standard"
| cannot too strongly urge you tc
make certain that everything possible
shall be done to that end.
With very kindest personal regards,
and best wishes always, am
Sincerely yours,
(Signed) WILL H. HAYS.