Motion Picture Herald (Jun-Sep 1934)

July 2 1, I 934 MOTION PICTU RE HERALD 27 PROTESTANTS ADOPT FILM PLEDGE week that exhibitors would not face any break in the flow of product. Vincent G. Hart, of the MPPDA, on Monday assumed supervision of the production code regulations in the East. All pictures made in the East, in addition to foreign importations, will be submitted for approval. Foreign product to be reviewed will include only those productions annexed for distribution in this country by MPPDA members. Announcement made last week by distributors that they would permit any exhibitor to cancel a feature on the grounds of a bona fide local protest against its morality was received favorably in the field. Dispatches from Hollywood said producers estimated the step probably will cost more than $10,000,000. United Press quoted Hollywood executives of the Hays organization as saying that scores of films already released, which have been proscribed by church and other organizations and are eligible for cancellation, probably would not be shown in hundreds of towns. New York leaders, however, discounted the estimated $10,000,000 cost, pointing out that while one distributor may lose a booking at one theatre because his picture is canceled, he stands to gain a booking at another house which has canceled a picture of the distributor's competitor. Criticism was leveled against the cancellation decision by Allied States and by leaders in certain church quarters. Reverend Dr. Sidney E. Goldstein, associate rabbi of the Free Synagogue, who represents American rabbis in the film movement, threw cold water on the idea. So did New England Catholic and Protestant churchmen, who decried the move as "a timid step forward" and declared it was "not a solution which strikes at the heart of the problem." The cancellation privilege was described by Allied States as "a red herring," and "so vague as to be meaningless." The new Interfaith Committee of Protestants, Jews and Catholics in New York said it was a step in the right direction, but it did not go far enough. Hays Talks to Coast Producers Studio executives representing all the large companies in the Association of Motion Picture Producers, the coast affiliates of the MPPDA, conferred late last week with Will H. Hays about working procedure of the program. They listened to an explanation by Mr. Hays and Mr. Breen of the technicalities of the Hollywood Production Code Administration. Writers and directors were served with strict orders that there must be nothing in forthcoming pictures to oflFend the moral sense of anyone, while the staffs of virtually every studio were closeted in projection rooms minutely examining "rushes" and completed negatives for objectionable material. Mr. Breen said all the studios seemed disposed to a surprising extent to comply with the new regulations. "Instead of arguing about certain changes, as might be expected in some cases, the studios are really 'leaning backwards' to meet the regulations of the administration," he said. After viewing nearly SO pictures — 31 of which already have been given an approval certificate— Mr. Breen said he demanded changes in some, which production executives immediately ordered. He indicated that one film will be almost completely remade. Prior to the producers' conference with Hays and Breen, all the studio heads were supplied The Way the Wind Blows DISTRIBUTOR— Columbia OLD TITLE NEW TITLE "The Criminal Within" "Among the Missing" "What Price Scandal?" "Name the Woman" Chained" The Girl from Missouri' DISTRIBUTOR— Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer OLD TITLE NEW TITLE "Sacred and Profane \ Love" S "100% Pure" \ Uorn To Be Kissed" S "Four Walls" "Straight Is the Way" DISTRIBUTOR— Paramount OLD TITLE NEW TITLE "It Ain't No Sin" \ "Belle of the Gay "St. Louis Woman" f Nineties" DISTRIBUTOR— RKO Radio OLD TITLE NEW TITLE "Family Man" "His Greatest Gamble' DISTRIBUTOR— Warner Bros. OLD TITLE NEW TITLE "A Lady Surrenders" "Desirable" "Gentlemen Are Born" "Happiness Ahead" with copies of a treatise on the industry, written by Bishop John J. Cantwell, of Los Angeles, and with copies of the results of a survey on the morality of films conducted by Reverend Father Daniel A. Lord, Catholic editor. Bishop Cantwell indicted the films for "not only glorifying the harlot, but her gangster 'boy friends' as well," and laid much of the blame for the rising tide of resentment against the industry to a class of writers who went to Hollywood from New York at the advent of talkers in 1927. Father Lord's survey, results of which were presented for the guidance of the producers, brought out that out of 133 productions released from January 15th, 1934, to May 15th, there were 107 major violations of sex morality. His report said : 26 of the 133 films had plots built on illicit love. 13 were based on plots or main episodes in which seduction is accomplished. 18 characters lived in open adultery. 3 1 murders were committed. 17 films presented gangsters in leading roles. 30 were suitable for children or adolescents. The industry's self-regulatory machine had been in operation scarcely a full 24 hours when there were heard in Hollywood some whispered discussions of the possibility of proving that, as a result of self-censorship, there will be no further need for supporting the seven state censor boards and the 133 municipal boards in the United States and Canada, which, aside from the difficulties caused by their inconsistencies, cost the industry $5,000,000 yearly in fees for licenses. It is expected that the industry also may prove to the dozens of unofficial groups viewing pictures the needlessness of continuing their activities. State boards include those operating in Mas sachusetts, Kansas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Florida. The Federal Council of Churches interdenominational conference, held late last week at its headquarters at 105 East Z2nd Street, New York, was called by the Reverend Samuel McCrea Calvert, secretary, and was attended by the official spokesmen of the Reformed Church in America, American Unitarian Association, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Quakers, Congregationalists, Salvation Army, Women's Christian Temperance Union, Young Men's Christian Association, Young Women's Christian Association and 13 others. The delegates elected Reverend Dr. Worth M. Tippy to active charge of the campaign, and the Reverend Dr. Harold M. Robinson, Presbyterian, of Philadelphia, as chairman of the Council's Special Committee on Motion Pictures. Forms of the Legion of Decency pledge, adopted with minor changes, will be circulated immediately to 100,000 ministers and through the religious press. Some of the church groups immediately will launch a campaign, but the official date for starting activities was set at October 21. The Special Committee was entrusted with promotion. The conferees made it clear that their objective was to accomplish wholesome entertainment and instruction and was not linked to any attempt to establish federal or local censorship. There will be no "white" or "black" lists used, as is the case in some Catholic dioceses. Text of the Pledge The Council reported a spontaneous demand from Protestants for copies of the pledge in bulk. Here is the pledge : For Better Motion Pictures DECLARATION OF PURPOSE (Sign and give to your pastor or organization")* I wish to join with other Protestants, cooperating with Catholics and Jews, in condemning vile and unwholesome moving pictures. I unite with all who pretest against them as a grave menace to youth, to home life, to country, and to religion. I condemn absolutely those salacious motion pictures which, with other degrading agencies, are corrupting public morals and promoting a sex mania in our land. I shall do all that I can to arouse public opinion against the portrayal of vice as a normal condition of affairs, and against depicting criminals of any class as heroes and heroines, presenting their filthy philosophy of life as something acceptable to decent men and women. I unite with all who condemn the display of suggestive advertisements on bill-boards, at theatre entrances and the favorable notices given to immoral motion pictures. Considering these evils, I declare mv purpose to remain away from all motion pictures which offend decency and Christian morality. I will try to mduce others to do the same. I make this protest in a spirit of self-respect, and with the conviction that the American puli)lic does not demand filthy pictures, but clean entertainment and educational features. Name Address 1 1 That there may be a united front, the pledge of the Legion of Decency has been used with only slight changes. Organizations and individuals are free to formulate their own pledges. The important thing IS not the form of a pledge but to keep its purpose (Issued by the Federal Council of Churches. 105 East 22nd Street, New York J *A duplicate copy of this Declaration to be retained by the signer. Jewish support of the crusade came on Monday when Dr. Sidney Goldstein, in charge of film matters for American rabbis, announced that during the High Holy Days, rabbis of the country will be asked to enlist their 5,000,000 churchgoers "in the protest against pictures that are a menace to the moral life