Evening star., 1934-07-10
WILL HAYS PIVOT
IN WAR ON MOVIES
Forgotten Code of Morals
in Films Also May Be
Revived.
~ the Aasocistea Press

~ the Azsocistso Press
HOLLYWOOD. Calf july 10
The motion picture industry looked
today 70 a forgotten code Of morals
end VIII n. Hays to lead 1t out Of
the wilderness Of asserted indecency
in Aims.
Returning To Hollywood from Ne"
York. the president Of the Association
Of Motion Pictures, in statement
concerning the strong criticism heaped
upon the movies by religious orgsni-
cations. said
Some of It may be justified some
may be entirely unwaTanted-all Of
Il understood. none Of 10 Is resented. "
Later. through a spokesman, Hays
termed as absurd" suggestion that
he might resign from The Job he had
held since 1922 at salary Of $3.50 900
n year, He refused 70 comment upon
the virtual demand OF a leading mem
Der Of the Inter-faith Conference in
New York that he give up his post.
In the heat OF the attack upon It's
productions, Hollywood suddenly re-
called that four years ago II had drawn
UP a code OF morals. A re-reading of
the almost forgotten code showed that
had Hollywood adhered to the princi-
pies laid down. there probably would
have been no need today to spread
oil on troubled waters
Many Features Banned
Nude or semi-nude art does not
necessarily make It's use in films moral.
the code specified Among other
things It Stunned we're presentations
OF Illegal drug trafiic, white slavery.
profanity. improper dances, improper
costumes. distorted history. the glori-
fication OF the criminal.
Harry Cohn OF Columbia pledged his
studio to never again make smutty
picture" He said the studio had made
one such production and realized little
upon 1t financially Other producers
make no comment.
Hays statement follows.
There is but one answer and one
answer only to reasonable objections
to pictures, and that is the pictures
themselves. The solution Of the prob
lem OF the right kind of screen enter
tainment rests solely with the quail
ity Of the product.
The strengthened arrangements
being perfected in the production
code administration are directed TO
that end.
There is a very definite value to
producers of pictures in certain
phases OF current criticism. Some OF
1t may be justified: some may be
entirely unwarranted-all of it is
understood--none of 1t is resented
The screen has always been the sub
Ject OF constant controversy. Nat
urally, every one of the $4,000, 900
people in the United States has and
is entitled to have his own opinion
OF the movies. without public criti-
cisn progress would be impossible in
this as in any other service of popu-
lar entertainment. The final prod
uct of our studios Is established by
the audience. as we'll as by writer's,
directors, artists, technicianS and
producers.
CRITICISM Held Natua bic,
"The American public and the mo-
ton picture industry have everything
to gain from every sincere movement
which works for the proper selection
of motion picture entertainment. The
current criticism has the very signifi-
cant value, too, OF encouraging the
support of good pictures of the right
kind. The responsible, organized criti-
cism which is planned specifically
promises this support and such sup
port will be useful and proper
The product to be released this Fall
will abundantly deserve this discrim-
mating support. It's great scope and
variety will include major and minor
classics of literature. musicales. his
torical romances, rare fantasy, human
interest stories dealing with every
day life. pictures that viii reflect the
great social trends of the day, pictures
OF vigorous satire and truly impressive
drama. splendid short subjects and
comedy, and the uniformly high quality
news reels-an performing the essen
tial service OF public entertainment
which, indeed is the mission of the
movies, What is projected on the
Screen-not what is said for or against
the character of the pictures-must be
justification of the continued public
support which the industry enjoys"