Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD II April 5, 1930 Adoption of Production Code Is Step Toward Screen Betterment Sponsor Code WILL H. HAYS President of Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America. CECIL B. DeMILLE President of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, Inc. Adherence to Laws Ratified by Hays Group Is Made Mandatory New Principles Are Based on a Sound and Reasonable Scheme of Regulation (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, April 1.— A code of principles to govern the production of motion pictures has been subscribed to by the predominating factors in production, the Motion Picture Producers 8C Distributors of America and the Association of Motion Picture Producers, the latter the Hollywood ally of the Hays group. This stride toward screen betterment and self-government is considered the most progressive in the history of motion pictures. Twenty companies have subscribed to the new standards, which were ratified at a meeting March 31 of the directors of the M P P D A. These companies are: Art Cinema Corporation ( United Artists), Christie Company, Inc., Columbia Pictures Corporation, Cecil B. DeMille Productions, Inc., Educational Studios, Inc., First National Pictures, Inc., Fox Film Corporation, Gloria Productions, Inc., Samuel Goldivyn, Inc., Inspiration Pictures, Inc., Harold Lloyd Corporation, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc., Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation, Pathe Studios, Inc., R K 0 Productions, Inc., Hal Roach Studios, Inc., Mack Sennett Studio, Tiffany Productions, Inc., Universal Pictures Corporation and Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. This code, designed to govern the portrayal of crimes against the law, sex, vulgarity, obscenity, profanity, costumes, dances, religion and repellent subjects, was formulated after intensive study by members of the industry and, according to Will H. Hays, by church leaders, leaders in the field of child education, representatives of women’s clubs, educators, psychologists, dramatists “and other students of our moral, social and family problems.” An edict, adopted as supplementary to the code, makes adherence to this body of laws regulating the conduct of production mandatory. No prints for distribution shall be made until the picture has been approved by the Association of Motion Picture Producers. Should the decision be that the picture, either in theme or treatment, violates the provisions of the code, changes ivill be indicated and ordered. This decision, if contrary to the views of the producing company, may be appealed, first to a production committee of three and finally to the board of directors of the Motion Picture Producers 8C Distributors of America. The full personnel of the production committee from which three are chosen to render decision in each individual case includes 17 executives of Coast studios. None of the three chosen can be associated in any way with the studio of the company whose picture is being judged. The new code is prefaced by a resolution which provides for uniform interpretation of all its provisions. “Every step of this procedure,” Mr. Hays explained, “is an act of self-government and voluntary self-discipline within the industry. Production managers will have available the best experience and advice of the industry as a whole, as well as the constructive criticisms and suggestions which the industry draws from the socially-minded groups whose cooperation it is receiving. “From the choice of the script to the completion of the picture, the complete machinery of self-guidance which the industry has built up will supervise the interpretation of the code and its translation into picture values. The code will be enforced through the intelligent practicability derived from consultation between those who want to make pictures better and those who want to see them better.”