Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-11
Hays Idea of Film Reform
ArOuses Some Skepticism

WYATT for the results" advises {
part of the American press. as Will
H. Hays, leader Of the motion picture
| industry, announces that realism is
to be forsaken in the output for the
screen, and that romance is to be sub
stitutsd. Skepticism is expressed,
while emphasis is laid on doubts as to
the correctness of the Hollywood idea
Of either realism or romance Some
editors, however, welcome the an
nouncement as possibly offering a re-
lief from present conditions.
1T is the policy Of the industry"
/ the Chicago Daily News comments on
! the basis of the remarks of Mr.. Hays,
TO draw more and more on the classics
| IN literature and the drama, avoiding
| vulgar fashy and sensational scenarios
| This is cheering news to the millions
OF motion picture patrons who are
weary of intolerably hackneyed plots
/ and stale variations Of the one theme
Sex-eXploited by the screen. There
are hundreds Of old masterpieces to
draw upon, and among the current pro-
| auctions on the legitimate stage there
are interesting. significant and fasci-
| mating offerings available for the
motion picture theaters. And there is
a large public to support artistic. ele-
waiting and delightful forms of enter
| tainrnent which thus may be provided"
Observing that fashions come and
fashions go in literature and drama"
| the st. Louis Times remarks that
there are those which never cease to
interest and delight" pointing to the
| influence of love, peace, happiness and
| comfort" which ENTER into everybody's
| desires and as themes are as new
| fashioned as they are old-fashioned. +"
| The Sioux Falls Argus Leader holds
/ that the movies have a larger in
| f1uence upon lives and habits than
most persons realize, and an improve
ment in their tone should be a source
| Of qualification" The Little Rock
Arkansas Democrat noting public re-
sentiment at the moral tone of the
majority of the pictures" exclaims {:
will Hays is right All the glamour
| Of romance remains. Let us get back
! to it,"
There is definite evidence" asserts
| the Morgantown Dominion-News, that
the public is through with its postwar
| preoccupation with morbidity and
| crime In literature and drama. Self
revelation as theme is losing its pop
! ularity. According to Mr.. Hays, the
year just passed saw a new record in
the production Of great feature films
| based upon historical, sociological,
| travel and other educational themes.
Most encouraging, Mr.. Hays predicts
| that the public Is growing tired, not
only of gangster rule, but Of gangster
themes in literature, on the stage and
| on the screen. That is at least some
thing. And If Mr.. Hays attitude re-
| fleets that of the producers of motion
pictures whom he represents, we may
look for increasingly better and better
pictures"
welcoming the fact that "the public
! is firing of the morbid avidity for
crime" the Savannah Morning News
ADDS: Now If the public will lose in
! terest in the sex-problem stuff, the pic
| ture business will get lot of better
friends The Indianapolis Star adj
vsnces the theory that perhaps the de-
| preston has supplied enough stark real
! ism to spare the stage and screen from
! further efforts in that direction" and
! AYERS that 1T is encouraging, at least to
/ hear the opinion of Mr.. Hays that ro-
manticism is regaining the good grAces
of the public The Hartford Courant
warns that romance alone has not been
mark Of moral or esthetic strength; 81
| that something more is needed than q
| tide of public opinion that turns from
! rawness to romance to give assurance
of progress in motion pictures" The st
Paul Dispatch ccnceaes that as To
crime, lie movies are reminders OF the