Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1962)

Goal of Censors Is Thought Control ; Film Ideas Can't Corrupt Youths' COLUMBUS, OHIO — Opposition to censorship was expressed by Ken Prickett, executive secretary of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, in an address before the Worthington Federation of Child Conservation Leagues here. Some 23 child conservation groups are represented in the group. “I believe you will agree that it is strange to find 11 pictures that had cuts made during the time censorship was in force in Ohio have been shown on television in uncut form,” said Prickett. “Should we take from this the idea that television, which enters our homes directly, should show things that a motion picture theatre could not show?” INVESTIGATED GROUPS Prickett said he investigated claims of various Columbus groups who urged the City Council to enact city censorship. “A group of nine persons stated during the hearing that they represented over 3,000 people. In checking into this claim, I found that 12 persons attended one meeting and 15 another meeting of the group. I was told that the group had invited interested persons in their neighborhood and, inasmuch as there were some 3,000 people in the neighborhood, they felt they represented and spoke for them.” Prickett said the ITOO’s opposition to censorship does not mean “complete unrestraint in the making and showing of motion pictures.” He said “We have in Ohio, and, I believe, all of the United States, obscenity laws which if enforced, sufficiently cover the ground. The rules of obscenity are quite well-defined and recent decisions of the Supreme Court prove that these laws are very much in effect.” Prickett denied claims of some pro-censorship advocates that the churches are solidly in favor of censorship. He quoted from the “Statement of Principles” pamphlet of the New York State Council of Churches ( Protestant) which said: “We believe that legislation to control mass media, though well-intentioned, may violate or impair civil rights, may inhibit or restrict the free flow of ideas, or may tend to superimpose the values of a particular segment of the community upon the entire community, including its judgments concerning the proper test governing that to which the public shall have free access.” ON CONDEMNED FILMS Prickett pointed out that the Catholic Legion of Decency’s recommendations have no doctrinal power. “In other words,” he said, "for a Catholic, there is not necessai ly a sin involved in attending a movie condemned by this organization.” Prickett said censorship contradicts basic axioms of democracy by its vague values, : erference in personal choice and re striction of the free play of ideas. “Censor ship means certain views may be expressed and certain topics discussed but not others,” he said. Prickett denied claims that films can corrupt the young. “No evidence having a scientifically valid base is available to support this view,” he said. Prickett told of a statement by one proponent of censorship at the City Council hearing that she felt a certain picture should be barred because the private life of the star did not measure up to her standards of behavior. “This shows that the attempt was not to censor the film as such, but to control the content of pictures, material and personnel alike.” Albany Newspaper Flays Film Classification Bill ALBANY — The Albany Times-Union, in its issue of February 19, expressed opposition to a bill now before the legislature, authorizing “official classification of all films.” The paper termed this “a well meaning but potentially dangerous measure.” The same characterization was applied to another bill which “a joint legislative committee has been instrumental in introducing.” That one “sets up machinery for the issuance of injunctions against the sale of suspected material without notice of any kind.” Recognizing “A growing need to protect our youth from being corrupted by obscene and offensive measures of every type,” the editorial declared the measures “appear to go about attaining this objective in the wrong way.” “Such measures,” the morning paper continued, “would place tremendous power in the hands of bureaucrats. We wonder how long that power would be used only to combat the evil it is designed to combat. Censorship feeds upon itself. Such power could open the door for bureaucratic control of every means of free expression . . . If the penal laws are not adequate to cope with obscenity, they can be made so. We suggest the legislature stiffen the penalties for the sale of illegal material . . .” IFIDA Names Committee Against Classification NEW YORK — Independent Film Importers & Distributors of America has appointed a committee, with Felix Bilgrey, vice-president and general counsel of Times Film Corp., as deputy chairman to play a major role in the current campaign against statutory classification and attempts to extend censorship law throughout the country, according to Thomas Brandon, president of Brandon Films and chairman of IFIDA’s censorship committee. Others on the committee are: Daniel Frankel, president of Zenith International; Irvin Shapiro, president of Films-Aroundthe-World; Richard Brandt, president of Trans-Lux Distributing, and Dr. Alfi’ed Norton, chairman of the board of Astor Pictures. Censors in Maryland Favor Tighter Law BALTIMORE — Maryland’s State Board of Motion Picture Censors has expressed disturbance “that nudity alone” is not sufficient ground to permit the board to deny licenses to exhibitors. The statement was included in a letter to State Senator J. Raymond Buffington, who has proposed a law for tighter censorship during the present session of Maryland legislature. Senator Buffington’s measure would provide the censor board authority to license certain films for exhibition only to persons over 18 years of age. The law, if adopted, would be based on a picture’s alleged harmful effect upon youngsters. The board wrote Senator Buffington that it has been “particularly disturbed by court decisions which hold that nudity alone is not obscenity.” The courts have also held that a film may not be denied a license merely because its contents would have a harmful effect on the young or emotionally unstable, according to the board. The three-member board told Senator Buffington passage of his proposed bill “would do a great deal to eliminate much # of the harmful” material contained in some films shown to youngsters. The board noted an increase in recent years of films which, in its opinion, are highly questionable. It claims that in many instances these films were licensed because of Maryland’s law concerning movie censorship. The letter to Senator Buffington was signed by censor board members, Norman C. Mason, Roslyn M. Shecter and Mary A vara. Classification System Seen Likely in Seattle SEATTLE — The adoption of a form of classification for films is strongly favored by the 15-member board of theatre supervisors and appeal’s likely to be approved. “Live” theatre productions would be included. The classification proposal is expected to be withheld until the city decides whether it will appeal the “Erotica” film case to a higher court. A suit against Robert S. Johnson, operator of the Gramercy Playhouse, where the film was shown, was dismissed after the court ruled that criminal penalties of the censorship ordinance were unconstitutional. The board is doing considerable study on the censoz’ship ordinance passed December 27 by the Chicago city council. The legal tenns used in the Chicago system may cause many problems, it is believed. James Barton, 71, Dies; Featured in 50 Films NEW YORK — A requiem mass for James Bai’ton, 71, stage star of "Tobacco Road" who also was featured in moi’e than 50 films, was held at St. Hedwig Roman Catholic Chui’ch Fi'iday (23). Barton died at Nassau Hospital, Mineola, L.I., February 19 after a heart attack. Interment was at St. John’s Cemetery. His film career started in 1935 with “Captain Hui’ricane.” 8 BOXOFFICE February 26. 1962