Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-27
Radio. Films
Lack Liberty
Of Press
Some Of Prohibitions
Regarded as Silly
BY DAMON RUNYON

radio and the cinema ENJOY
no such free freedom as the
press despite the popular inn
preston that all forms OF public
expression In this country are
untrammeled, bar a few current
prohibitions of the wartime CEN
sorship.
Even in this case the prohibit
tions weigh more heavily on the
radio and the cinema than on the
newspapers or magazines. Some
are direct, others implied. In
many instances they reflect a
slight aura of that good old
American hypocrisy that always
figures strongly in our national
life.
Recently I heard a couple OF
movie makers discussing certain
phases of story that in the in
terests of historical truth would
have to be laid in Mexico in 1916
when this nation was having
plenty of trouble with that coun-
try and specifically with Pancho
Villa.
One of the movie makers said
the locale could not be used be-
cause the government did not
want any depletion Of Mexico or
the Mexicans in an unfayorable
light lest it disturb the good
neighbor" policy.
The other movie maker sug-
gested that perhaps the action
could be shifted to a mythical
Central American republic, but
the first bloke said that could
not be done, either.
He said the objection applied
TO all Latin-American countries
and while he did not say that
there is definite rule against 1t
from the movie higher-ups he in
dicated there is an understand
ing on that point.
NOR can anything be presented
~ in the movies or said on
the radio that might show the
Russians or Chinese or Eng
lish in an unfavorable light,
though the subject may be an
historical fact.
On the other hand. there
seems no objection anywhere to
depicting Americans past and
present in shady characteristics
and unpleasant phases Of life. If
true; indeed, sometimes even the
truth is disregarded.
No one complains when Jesse
James and the Younger brothers
and other famous bandits of
American history are shown on
the screen or when some of our
homegrown iniquities are dis
cussed on the radio, so II is
somewhat surprising TO learn
that both mediums would proba-
bly, be denied the privilege OF
recalling Pancho Villa as a ma
rauder. or dwelling upon the
murderous tendencies Of some
of the old-time Russians lest the
tender sensibilities Of the pres
ent generations in those coun-
tries be injured,
IN SHORT, nothing is supposed
Il 10 have happened in any
other country friendly 10 us at
this time that did not partake OF
sweetness and light, but any
thing can happen in our own
country.
OF course, Germany and
Japan are the world villains OF
the moment and all past and
present human bestiality and
skullduggery may safely land
probably rightly be laid in
those countries in all mediums
to public applause, though for
reasons unknown to me Italy
enjoys certain amount of inn
munity.
And il was not long ago that
Japan. the most treacherous of
all, was being handled rather
carefully even in a historical
sense.
1t seems ironical now that
the feelings of the slant-eyed
scoundrels had to be considered
to the extent of their historical
crimes and their racial de-
pravity by public purveyors of
information and knowledge.
THE printed word - news
Il papers. magazines. books
has no such reticence when IL
comes to history, and / am sure
that no hint is ever conveyed
to these publications that some
body would like to see them
LAY off" recitals Of long ago
happenings because of a pos
sible unfavorable reflection on
a peoples or a country. II that
were true, we would have no
record of history.
And / am not convinced that
the intelligent people of any
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