Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21


+or who was one of the pioneers
of the screen, stepped to the top
rung Of the photoplay ladder. He
was closely watched, his moves
were duplicated, in a way, by
oCher directors and producers, ana
his pictures usually were 6uccess..
full. Then, suddenly, he dropped
from the spotlight, and the SOUND
pictures have showed him still
deeper into the beyond. Yet, at
one time, Griffith was acknowl-
edged as the leading spirit OF the
movies. Those who made careful
study Of the matter had decided
that he was the one to lead the
photoplay from darkness and place
it where it really belonged-aS the
finest medium of entertainment.
This man Griff1th, in the days
of long ago, was the first to bring
out a long picture-that Is, the
seven and eight reeler-after film
producers had announced that the
"long" picture was an Impossible
ity. 1.-THE Birth of Nation" was
a brilliant idea, and 1t came to the
public at a psychological time.
Following this, Grifflth produced
Intolerance" Broken Blossoms"
and isn't Life Wonderful" OF
these pictures, Birth of a Nation"
made the most money and received
the most publicity, but Broken
Blossoms" was the best produc-
ton. If you remember, Dick Bar
thickness and Lillian GiSh were the
stars. The group of films served
to place Director Griffith at the
head of his craft, and the four
pictures were considered the most
significant esthetic contributions
to the screen world up to that
time. Although many thousands
of pictures have been made in
Hollywood and elsewhere since
that time, Broken Blossoms" and
the other Griffith works stand out.
Griffith was the leader who saw
the future of the motion picture.
It was he who planned the pres
ent-day technique, who gave the
film the foundation for bigger and
better things. There was no dis
putting his place among the pro-
ducerS. Then, it seems, his de-
velopment was arrested. For a
time, he dropped from the Aim
world. One heard little OF his
work and his plans. The value OF
his early work was recognized by
others in the production line, and
his ideas are followed to this day.
But he has produced no more
great pictures. Birth of Nation"
is still exhibited, in more or less
mutilated form, and it still ranks
high when placed with the con-
ventional pictures.
The case of Griffith is more or
less tragic to the photoplay, be-
cause, since he left the cinema
there has been little advance-at
least, not in keeping with other
progress. OF course, the sound
picture has been developed and
more or less perfected, but this is
the only change from the early
days. AS far as scenic effects,
lighting, cloSe-upS and all the
other details are concerned, they
are no better today than they were
when Intolerance" and Broken
Blossoms" were filmed. The early
discoveries and successes Of Grit
fifth placed the motion picture
where it is today, and at that
point the work OF the master
seemed to stop. The movie in
dustry, or art, is waiting for an
other Griffith director or pro-
Queer who can vision the future
a film executive who can see be-
yond the box Office and do for the
sound pictures what David Wark
Griffith did for the silent fllm.
With plenty OF blends for
atmosphere, Smart Money
might haze been an ordinary
picture, but the tDork of Edt01rd
G. Robinson causes 1t to stand
out. This actor, NTH an Gbun-
dance OF natural ability, has
captured Hollywood and the
pubHc alike. Front Page" is
eUerything that is expected OF
1t, and 'Dolt Meniou ShotDs that
he can be Just as accomplished
a managing editor as q teGcup
juggler IN pGrIor farce. The
starring Uehicle for Kay Francis.
is far belotO the 1UerGge-1nd
the Average, at present, is SUI
fering 1Uith depression blues.
X y Il
HATCHER HUGHES, prominent
= 4 playwright and instructor at
Columbia University, is chairman
of the recently organized National
Council on Freedom from Censor
ship, which is launching an in
tenSive campaign to rid the coun-
try of all forms of censorship,
including the repeal of the six
State laws authorizing advance
censorship of motion pictures.
The organization is a branch Of
the American Civil Liberties Union
of New York, and among its
active workers are Elmer Rice,
Fannie Hurst, Barrett H. Clark,
Rupert Hughes, H. L. Mencken,
George Jean Nathan, Eugene
O'Neill and Robert E. Sherwood.
The new campaign includes &C
ton against the post Office censor,
customs censor, radio and book
censorship; against city ordi-
nances authorizing advance CEN
Sorship by municipal boards, ban
ming of pictures upon the grounds
of obscenity.
All this work may bring results,
but hold to my original sugges-
tion-that the only censorship be
conducted in Hollywood, and
through the Hays organization.
If this can be accomplished there
will be no need for State and
municipal censorship - and no
need for organizations to fight
censorship. The compact organi-
cation of Mr.. Hays should be able
to bring about the desired end; it
could be accomplished smoothly,
.alrcctl1r and In thnrnlQhlX In.