Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

Kpril 11, 19 3 1 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 43 bANCSTER FILMS BRING MOST CUTS FIRST EDK VnilNAL nillSTr SAVIM.S HANK Half of Chicago Deletions In Crime Pictures rr I Originality characterizes Educational's Chicago's Prosperity drive for May playdates, now in full swing there. The first advertising matter mailed to exhibitors calls attention to the drive and encloses a "deposit" slip for May playdates and the classification of product desired. "Deposits" are made with the "First Educational Trust & Savings Bank, Chicago." These slips serve as confirmations for Educational's booker. A "bank book" recording the "deposits" is retained by the exhibitor. Followup material, similar in nature to savings account paraphernalia, has been prepared and will be distributed later. Educational's booking department has also been given the appearance of a bank depository to further carry out the idea of the Prosperity drive. €N WABASH AVENUE CHICAGO J. Franklin Young has returned to the United Artists sales staff on city accounts. Maurie Hellman has been transferred to country sales and Charles Kranz, from United Artists' Cleveland exchange, also will cover country territory. ▲ ▲ ▲ J. S. Harrington, Sono Art-World Wide purchasing agent, appeared on the local scene this week. AAA Metro ran into plenty of opposition ayid few customers when it tried to sell "Trader Horn" on a 50-50 split basis here. AAA The new manager of the Grand (North avenue) is Jack Friedman. AAA The Calumet, at Hammond, is now Lou Rineheimer's. Frank Phelps, formerly with RKO here, is managing three Warner theatres at Cleveland, AAA Ted Levy is now with Ad-Vance Trailer. AAA L. Sussman's younger brother lost that arm as a member of a German gun crew on one of the Big Berthas when it was bombed by British airmen. AAA The Fire Prevention Bureau's cases against theatres using acoustical materials not approved were continued to June 4. AAA Sussman's Adelphi is canvassing patrons to obtain opinions as to their preferences for "balanced" programs or double features. A free pass is being given for every written reply and a majority will decide the theatre's policy either way. KANE But Censor Board Notes "Definite Improvennent" in Subject Matter of Short Product Chicago (QP) — Gangster pictures are the particular aversion of the Chicago board of censors. This is revealed by a further analysis of the board's annual report to Acting Commissioner of Police John Alcock. The "alky" and artillery pictures were the targets of almost 50 per cent of the total cleansing orders issued by the board in 1930. Of the 2,959 cuts ordered in the year, 1,358 were in gangster pictures, the report discloses. The views or dialogue deleted from these pictures, the censors say, showed disrespect for law enforcement agencies; glorification of the gangster or outlaw; justification of murder and brutality ; methods of evading apprehension and justice; methods of planning and committing criminal acts, and collusion between law authorities and the underworld. Protests Court Orders One such picture, which was banned in its entirety by the board, was exhibited by court orderj the report adds. The exhibition was cited as a "deplorable instance," illustrating the limitations of censorship authority. Second on the list of deletions, and characterized in the report as "the most dangerous phase of talking pictures," was sex immorality. In this category 850 cuts were ordered. Of these the report says : "There is a general tendency in talking pictures to present a 'modern' attitude with its elusive standards in such a subtle or confusing manner that it is impossible for the large majority of picture audiences to make any distinction between the rightness and the fallacy of that attitude. This tendency is evidenced in an increasing number of productions having for their themes, or incorporating in some form, aspects of illicit relations between the sexes, illegitimacy, disrespect for or ridicule of the marriage state, and other forms of sex immorality. These comprise the most dangerous phase of talking pictures. Very little of true love or romance is pictured." "Vulgar" or "indecent" views or references are next on the list of deletions, with 350 such cuts ordered. These were centered largely in short subjects which, according to the report, incorporated much of the worst entertainment of the old variety stage. Cites Definite Improvement "There has been a significant change in the quality of these short acts in the last three months," the report comments. "A definite improvement in subject matter has been noted." The remainder of the cuts included 47 deemed by the censors to be racially offensive, and 35 considered to be offensive to religion or to sects. There were 37 rejections of complete pictures, of which 15 were features and the remainder shorts. "Pink" or "adults only" permits were issued for 45 features, an increase over other A-ears.