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JUVENILE DELINQUENCY 83 varieties of life. There has been some preoeeupalion with these violent subjects, that in developing them there has been a great deal of indiscretion, that in advertising them there has been a flagrant dis- regard for good standards of taste and even of common decency. I believe, not only the presence of this connnittee here in this town and the result of its inquiry, but also the facts that have now been brought to the minds of the leaders of the motion-picture industry, will result in improvement. Thank you very much. Chairman Kefauver. Thank you very much, Mr. Mooring. You have given us a carefully prepared and documented analytical state- ment, which we are grateful to you for. Mr. Mooring. Thank you. Chairman Kefauver. How man}^ papers do you write for, Mr. Mooring^ Mr. Mooring. I think there are 47 in America and 3 in Canada, in addition to some supplied in Europe through various Catholic news agencies. I would say about 50 here and in Canada. Chairman Kefauver. Do you have any questions, Mr. Bobo? Mr. BoBO. Yes. sir. ]\Ir. Mooring, you have spoken of a great increase in crime and violence in the movies. To what do you attribute this increase in crime and violence ? Mr. Mooring. Well, to the three points. I would say to a tendency to confuse the provisions and operations of the production code, with censorship on the part of some producers. There is resentment against the code and they try not to—they try to avoid its objectives. That is one thing. Violent and very well understandable competition between movies and television, l)ecause the movie people feel they have this additional competitor right in the homes. I am bound to say I agree with those who argue if it is proper to shoot crime and violence right in the draw- ing room or living room of an American home, then it isn't improper to show it on the motion-picture screen where at least there is an element of choice involved. On television it is thrown right at the people. Something, it seems to me, must be done b}^ the television people to clean this situation up. and I think, as a result of it, the movie people would take fresh courage and get back to making their own voluntary production code work. INIr. BoBO, Do you think that the American public demands this type of picture or that the motion-picture industry sets the demand for the American public ? Mr. Mooring. It would be churlish for a critic to deny that box- office results of some of these pictures indicate tliat tliere is an element of public denumd, but in my opinion that should not be the deciding- factor. While obviously the motion-picture and television people are in busi- ness to make money—quite obviously so—they do have an additional responsibility. They are not to consider themselves free to sell any kind of motion picture, and I don't think they really wish to feel free to sell any kind of motion picture.