Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

"POST" OPENS WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN ON DOPE FILM • tiie wee& ir of 34 dealing, after adings, and 52 despp sunjps exrtlyi»loudy ;ratu|es In .nap %ashle meraijry ffalo, N. in central ded lor freshmen were discLosed by win j "Miss Martin has been a powerful See GRIDIKON, Page 21, Column 2 1 See GOP, Page 10, Column 2 ^ilfcred9 By Cycle of Movies About Dope Feared as Film Code Is Eased By Robert Bruskin Pout Reporter d movie codes on drag traffic-iPe^lS^M^Q0Permit a film on the very bur»tf*»|^i^i| it— are * causing apprehension «t ranks of those interested in wel convmce will pre The it) 1947 is r -total nur the Bureau that -"adtUsti dangerous drua^|^|^pFlSrIds to ^^^^^^postw'ar periods," apprehensive observers predict PhysicianSyChurchmen and Civic Leaders Condemn Amendment to Code Sunday on page one The Washington Post, influential in its circulation "on the Hill" and through the pulses of the national capital presented the first of a series of news articles on the amendment of the motion picture's Production Code to open the screen to pictures on the dope traffic. The initial article by Robert Bruskin, Post reporter, set forth background facts pertaining to negotiations which had been had with the Treasury Department seeking exclusive dope picture rights, and the utterances of sundry spokesmen for governmental and industry organizations. Also expressions of condemnation for the entire drug addiction picture movement, in detail and in general, were gathered from prominent authorities, including churchman, social workers and police authorities. Among those quoted were: Dr. Samuel A. Silk, a psychiatrist and assistant superintendent of St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington; Dr. Norman Gerstenfeld, rabbi, the Washington Hebrew Congregation; Bishop Angus Dun of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Washington ; the Most Rev. John M. Mcnamara, Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore and Washington and pastor of St. Gabriel's Church; Ray L. Huff, director of Public Welfare for the District of Columbia, and Captain Rhoda J. Millikin of the Washington police department's Women's Bureau. The Production Code provision: "Illegal drug traffic must never be presented," a flat prohibition, was amended at a meeting of the board of the Motion Picture Association in New York September 11 The resolution of amendment was presented "in camera" with no pre-discussions outside the immediate parties at interest. The new provision of the Code reads: "The illegal drug traffic must not be portrayed in such a way as to stimulate curiosity concerning the use of, or traffic in, such drugs; nor shall scenes he approved which show the use of illegal drugs, or their effects, in detail." Motion Picture Herald in the issue of Septembei 21 presented a symposium of expression from exhibitors across the land including such expressions of condemnation. In the same issue was an editorial entitled "Dope and Compromise." The first attention from the lay press came in sequel in the syndicated column, 12 The Washington Post, December 15, 1946. "Americans All" in the New York Post by Dr. Daniel A. Poling, editor of the Christian Herald in New York, in which he quoted feelingly from the editorial expression and urged: "This code amendment should be reconsidered— and killed immediately." The Washington Post's attention of last Sunday is presented herewith: by ROBERT BRUSKIN Post Reporter Relaxed movies codes on drug traffic — eased to permit a film on the very bureau concerned with it — are causing apprehension in ranks of those interested in welfare problems. Fears are mounting among spiritual leaders, psychiatrists and social workers that Hollywood has run the gamut of gangster and neurotic pictures and the turn will be to drug traffic plots. In the situation, the Treasury of the United States and its Bureau of Narcotics is cast as the reluctant father — now seeking to disown its sordid offspring. And in the face of warning from the Bureau that "addiction to dangerous drugs always tends to increase in postwar periods," apprehensive observers predict dire results from a cinema dope cycle. Code Provision Attacked By Legion of Decency Until recently Hollywood prohibited .itself, through the Motion Picture Association production code, from presenting in any way illegal drug traffic. To permit production of a film depicting the work of the Bureau of Narcotics, the code was amended to read: "Illegal drug traffic must not be portrayed in such a way as to stimulate either curiosity or interest concerning the use of, or traffice in such drugs; nor shall scenes be approved which show the use of illegal drugs or their effects in detail." This, said the National Legion of De cency, Catholic watchdog over cinema morals, "in effect opens the door for the production" of drug films and "reports already indicate that several companies are planning 'dope' productions." "The screen possesses such great power and influence, especially on impressionable persons, the subject of drugs in itself arouses such avaid and even morbid curiosity, that drug pictures on the screen inevitably will bring in their wake very serious moral and physical evils," declared Monsignor John J. McClafferty, executive secretary of the legion. "Far from solving or lessening the drug problem, drug pictures will spawn a plague of dangerous experimentations and explorations with resultant addictions. The Government agency working against the narcotic evil does not need a theatrical film to extol its work and the wonderful accomplishments of its agents. In fact, a film on the work of the agency may very well disclose procedures and operations to such an extent as to forewarn those criminals fostering the drug habit." Narcotics Bureau's Files Made Available to Writer Permission to obtain material from the files of the Narcotics Bureau was given by former Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau to Jay Richard Kennedy, a writer. Several months ago Kennedy complained to the present Treasurer, John W. Snyder, that "every shoestringer" in Hollywood would produce irresponsible films with impunity unless Snyder would advise other writers and producers that Kennedy was working with the Treasury and to get in touch with him. Morgenthau and former Secretary Vinson, Kennedy added, already had advised David Selznick, Warner Bros, and one other that he was the man to see. In effect, he appeared to Treasury officials to ask for sole Hollywood rights to stories of Treasury activities, in a rich market. Just about the time that the Legion of MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 21, 1946