Evening star., 1962-09-23
TO BAN OR NOT TO BAN
6 Grondmos Focus on Rocy Movies

white Censors could not han film beeause
1t offended the prejudice Of g community.
But more important the Supreme Court ruled that NOV
les under the protection Of the First Amendment As
DOCKS magazines newspapers, teevision radio the
to something before being penazed rather than being
penalized before 1t said. q ..-
The LADY Chatterys decision in 1859 ruled that
picture could not be censored for immortality" Obscenty
appeared the only thing left And the question Of defining
obscenity Is highly complex.
Finally the Pennsylvana Supreme Court declared the
state censor board unconstitutional Everyone ready for
the o. Supreme Court to do the thing year in
case involving the Chicago Censor Board.
Boards Feel Encouraged
It did not to the surprise of most horror of many
and the relief OF someespeciay the boards
decision said could limit State in the selection
OF the remedy 1t deems effective Since then the boards
feel they are on the wsy back.
What guide these censors In deciding whether nude
is ewdP One mainly But the elaboration this quite
creative The rule semmng from Supreme Court decision
whether to the average wha aveage? person. applying
contemporary community (rural su. subwbanP) stand
interests" -. = = -
Virginia. Maryland and the District improvise on this
theme.
Maryland is the most creative.
should be discreet"
I'VE want to avoid any controversy" said Elwood I,
Gebhart executive director. <-,
TITS dirt for drts sake" said Mrs. Holland.
The Maryland Code is also the most elaborate
include tendency ito ncite crime and Ito debase
rupt morals"
The inevitable schzophrena sneaks into such statements
as this one by Mr. Gebhart. Family nudity is all right
long it's families But most of the stuff get nova
days just models" Or the Holland: Strip
teasers all right long the movement doesn't
tuate the nudity" ...l---.
The Maryland Board banned "The Immoral Mr. Teas"
and Shangri-la during the last On the latter
flm Mr. Gebhart said Nudity is all right but you can't
have anybody standing the sidenes mocking it max
ing fun Of it, as In 'Shangr-a.'"
fhavfo poft r11Ieh butt THAR
scissors that many films, such
"The Immoral Mr.. Teas" sent to Virginia
The lack of censorship the District hardly the
working of the law Deputy Police Chief Roy c. Bck of the
Morals Division said his guiding principle in prosecuting
theater good sense" No film, his
recollection been banned Washington outside of
peep shows.
Matter Of Semantics
The officer empowered to demand scene cuts with
out the consent the U.s. Attorneys office but he refused
to name any cuts he had requested.
"It would reflect the theater he said Since "The
Immoral Mr.. Teas" went uncut. it be surmsed that
his scissoring Is slight.
William W. Greenhalgh. acting chief of the Municipal
Court Division Of the q. S. Attorneys Office explained
that obscenty had to be patiently offensive.
And what meant by patiently offensiveP"
That's good question" said Mr. oreenhalgh "I don't
Then he admitted I'VE have little Hays Code
with eight or nine points to act as gldelines."
Crimes Section of the Deparmet Of Justice said ali Of
them The United States Code he said did not
includes anything tending to ncite arson. murder
sassnaton.'
admitted Mr. Burnett There is for honest disagree
ment He said study Of complete reshapng Of the law
Despite all this the censor boards in Maryland and
Virginia shipping away with renewed vigor.
People demanding srcter censorship" said Mrs
Gregory she went to work Shoot The Piano Player
'IFs just like all the French films" she added ''The
hero has number Of friends without the benefit Of clergy