The Washington times., 1929-07-13
GLEANINGS'
ANp 81

BY HIM RING

Public Policy No. b,622, has
come to sanctify the movie in-
dustry. Which, as any thor
ouRh-going ! professional re-
former viii tell you, II dripping
with scarlet sin.
p. p. No. 6,622 Is sired by
the Hays organization, and
represents the latest effort of
goodly people TO get the jump
on sponsors Of censorship by
law.
Let as not snicker at this
worthy enterprise; but remember
that p. p. No. 1922 Is the direct
descendant Of 6,621 plans that
seemed iust as good In the rosy
Light Of public spirited enthusi-
asn. Alas, for the cold gray
dawnl
The policy has strong back
ing, and its operation il receiv-
ing the open aid Of some very
influential and wealthy patrons
y Of the cinenatic art. They want
"a o'do something fine for all the
people, but such minds usually
deem themselves fit to tell the
people what's fine for them.
The heart Of this plan is q
movement to supervise scripts
before the cameras and micro
phones are turned loose upon
The black-and-white brain chill
dren, By vigilant and incessant
scrutiny, it is hoped that the
ash can win be used as ,, re-
ceptacla for screen stories
which, translated to the screen,
possibly would offend religious
sects, nationalities, races or
other large political, social or
geographical divisions Of society.
The work Is being tackled by
the Hays Willing Workers in
an agony of apprehension that
If they don't do their job well,
national censorship of films
will become q reality in our
fair land.
The prediction is confidently
ventured that P. P. No.. 5,622
will succeed just dandy-for .
while. Then. one producer after
another, with high-priced dia.
5logue writers, mad because
their scripts were junked, will
begin to reneg from the policy.
Then the world of. the cinema
will resume it's wonted course,
censorship or no censorship.
The movie industry isn't
headed by MEN who think it's
good business to flout the pub
lie taste. 'They're not going to
allow subordinates with wild
ideas to exploit their prejudices
at the expense Of the film COM
paniess
Why all this fear, then, of
offending certain groups? Any
person who entertains the pub
lie knows it is impossible to
avoid treading on the toes of
someone now and then. That's
happening IN every line Of en-
deavor.
Much as some of our nations
optimists would like to believe
the contrary, everything in the
country isn't perfect, and if the
movies sometimes touch a sore
spot, it should cause not indig-
nation against the movies, but
against the conditions that the
pictures expose.
Dolores Del Rio, flashing,
dashing figurine, boasting a
natural tan that will be the
envy of every girl in Washing
ton, arrived here yesterday, to
capture new hearts.
In her suite at Wardman
Park Hotel, she voiced a new
idea for the talkies.
"Now that we've had all the
possible murder mysteries and
backstage romances," said your
correspondent, "what next?"
II am so tired Of them,' she
laughed" / hope the talking
pictures viii bring opera to the
great masses Of the public. /
would very much like to see
this. I would like to study a
little more, and play Butterfly
Oh, that. would be fine"
"And Carmen y?
Yes, and -Tosca., I think
that would be my favorite."
Miss Del Rio is a singer Of
no mean pretensions, as visitors
to her picture, "Evangeline," at
the Columbia, will learn. She
studied voice extensively in Eu-
rope before entering motion
pictures.
And without disparaging the
said 'sEvangeline," she thinks
Resurrection" contains her best
dramatic work.
She wants to see everything
in Washington. Guests at her
reception at the hotel yester-
day were pressed into service to
make an itinerary for her. She
il young, good-natured, very,
very pretty, and very much in
love with life.
AhOIlt .IOe Rrown