Juvenile delinquency (1955)

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY 233 Exhibit No. 13 Joint Estimates of Current Entesitainment Ftlms, New York, N. Y., June 10,1955. Senator Estes Kefauver, United States Senate, Juvenile Delinquency Committee, Los Angeles, Calif. Gentlemen : In response to your inquiry of June 2, 1955, we are unable to volunteer as witnesses before your committee because of the travel involved. This board, composed of representatives of 13 national organizations whose com- bined membership totals 40 million Americans, reviews those 35-millimeter fea- ture-length entertainment lilms intended for widespread distribution in the United States. This voluntary work consists of screening, appraising, and clas- sifying each film as to audience suitability. The frank and unbiased reviews are distributed gratis, upon request, to schools, colleges, libraries, churches, club groups, local newspapers, radio stations, and motion-picture exhibitors. Over the past several years, this board has been well aware of the alarming rise in the incidence of juvenile delinquency. We are also aware of the pervasive and worldwide climate of violence which has found increasing expression in con- temporary novels, plays, motion pictures, comic books, radio, and TV, and in the public press. Regarding the possible influence of any one medium or another on present or potential juvenile delinquents, we are in accord with the findings of Secretary Hobby's Special Conference on Juvenile Delinquency, June 1954, which stressed the home and the child's individual environment as the real roots of such delinquency. We also believe that in the maladjusted child any item of his or her experience, either real or vicarious, may suggest antisocial or illegal actions. With regard to your specific question concerning the presentation of illicit sex in motion pictures, we have found that such situations are implied rather than shown or verbalized; we believe that they would not necessarily affect adoles- cents. However, we have been concerned with the increase of sex suggestive- ness in recent films. During the last year there has been a definite increase in the number of crime films as well as films with specific instances of unnecessary violence. We fully realize and accept the fact that in action, war, adventure, or historical films, violence is an inevitable ingredient. We must see the enemies biting the dust, the villains coming to a bad end; these are obligatory scenes. But now, in such films, we have not 1 or 2 villains, but a whole score, all of whom come to bad ends, so that the amount of footage devoted to violence has increased. Secondly, the kind of violence shown has assumed many new forms. Instead of a swift bullet disposing of the malefactor, he meets his end in a variety of fashions, either shown or implied. Similarly, almost all heroes are now required to prove their courage and stamina by prolonged brutal fights or seniilethal exhibitions of jujitsu. Although each single episode of violence may conform to the restrictions of the Production Code, we feel that the cumulative effect is often an overdose of mayhem. Finally, we feel that present-day scenes of violence exercise enormously in- creased audience impact because of the technical advances in photography and projection. Vividly lifelike color, giant screens, and stereophonic sound accen- tuate such scenes so that they frequently become overpowering. Since Januar.v 19.55, this committee has been cooperating with Mr. Shurlock, director of the Production Code, at his request, in advising him of specific scenes in specific pictures, which, in our opinion, contain excessive brutality or unnecessary violence. At this point, we wish to go on record once again as opposing censorship of any of the mass media whether by Federal. State, or local ordinance, as being thoroughly undemocratic. On the other hand, we feel that the mass media of communication must not confuse freedom with license; they must exercise due responsibility for the type of material which they present to the public. While affirming our support of the principle of self-regnlafion. wo do. however, urge that the motion-picture companies uphold the spirit as well as the letter of