Motion Picture Commission : hearings before the Committee on Education, House of Representatives, Sixty-third Congress, second session, on bills to establish a Federal Motion Picture Commission (1978)

MOTION PICTURE COMMISSION. 67 twentieth man wanted to keep open, and because he kept open the other nineteen had to keep open. I have heard that analogy made as to the original work of the national board, that there were nineteen men wlio had good films, but the twentieth man discredited the whole trade. The Chairman. You think it was a necessity, do yous the censor- ship? Dr. Howe. Do I think that censorship is necessary? The Chairman. Yes. If not, why did you adopt it? Dr. Howe. I should hesitate to say that I believe it is right for any coercive governmental agency to establish a censorship over any ac- tivities which relate to the morals, education, or personal life of the people. Mr. Towner. But that was not the question. The chairman's question now is clearly directed to the question of censorship. Is censorship of any kind necessary? Dr. How^e. Will you let me distinguish between voluntary censor- ship and official censorship? Mr. Towner. I should think you could answer that question, whether censorship of any kind was necessary. Dr. Howe. Well, of course, if I did not believe that there was some kind of action necessary I would not be chairman of this board; I would not be giving the amount of time I do to it, but I have a very clear and a very honest point of view relative to the Government en- tering into certain realms of activity. And while I believe the Gov- ernment ought to stay out of certain things, such as religion, such as the ])ress, such as the drama, and such as motion-picture shows, I do think it is perfectly permissible for voluntary organizations to enter that field, and by any means which they can use, which are not static and official, bring about a desired result. The Chairman. Right there; you think your censorship has accom- plished good, do you ? Dr. Howe. I have not the faintest doubt but what it has done good. The Chairman. Therefore it has removed objectionable films oi: pictures. Dr. Howe. Well, I w^ould like to enlarge on that if I can. I think it has done good. Now, I was over in Germany last year and I found in Bavaria, the land of beer, that the consumption of beer had gone off .^0 ]>(i- cent in 10 years' time. Tlieix' is no prohibition there, no high license, no tax, no restraint. The people themselves have edu- cated themselves through self-restraint, through higher standards of education, through a great many influences The Ciiairmaxn (interposing). Through moral influences? Dr. Howe. Yes; into a better standard of living. Now, I have not the least doubt in my mind but wiiat the motion-picture business has improved largely through tlic same influences. In the first place, the demands throughout the country insist upon better and better and better pictures. The exhibitors, on their OAvn motion, throw back films, and just as the whole cliaracter of America is demanding bet- ter things all the time, so 1 think that influence has tended to im- prove the motion-i)icture business tremendously. I think the pro- ducers have lielpc! in the same v.ay. So I can not tell specifically as to Avhat 1 or HO possible influences have improved the motion-pic- ture business, but I think the njrtional board has improved it.