Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1922)

3342 Motion Picture News r v’ EW men have had as many honors be stowed upon them as has Will H. Hays. Recognized nationally for his ability as an organizer in connection with the Republican party and as a Postmaster General whose work has probably never been excelled, he has been heralded the length and breadth of the country. But with all of the past honors Hays will probably take as much satisfaction in the expressions of good will and favorable comment expressed for him by the biggest men in the motion picture industry as he has through any of his past achievements. Not all of the jury of one hundred sitting for Motion Picture News placed Hays among the twelve whose names go into the Hall of Fame. No one man received the unanimous approval of the whole one hundred as among the twelve leaders, but Hays is among the twelve, highly rated, and none has had more kindly words of praise than the big chief of the industry. As a sample of this might be cited the comment of William Brandt in connection with his list of twelve. Mr. Brandt says of Hays: “ Will Hays needs no comment. His wonderful work is too recent to comment. Suffice to say he has done more in the short time he is in office to rehabilitate the movies in the good grace of the public than any one person has done since their inception. It is the exhibitor, who is on the firing line, facing the public, who feels the effect of General Hays within the industry, and the exhibitor is glad and hopes Hays keeps up the good work.” W. W. Hodkinson, a pioneer in the industry, is, perhaps, a severe critic ordinarily, but he is always willing to give, credit where credit is due. Mr. Hodkinson writes of Hays: “ He has focused the public mind on motion pictures to a greater degree than has been accomplished by anyone else and by so doing has placed it on trial before the public, which is watching to see the promised reforms and improvements realized.” Lewis J. Selznick is as vitally interested in the welfare of the industry as any one connected with it, and it is quite a compliment to Hays when he gives him credit for developing hundreds of thousands of new friends for motion pictures. Others who helped place Mr. Hays in the Hall of Fame comment as follows: J. W. Binder — “ Will H. Hays has been, perhaps, the biggest single constructive force in the history of the picture.” WILL H. HAYS "The Balance Wheel of the Industry” Is Elected By Large Majority Bruce Barton — -“ Mr. Hays is a natural organizer who has undoubtedly accomplished splendid results in the short time he has been connected with the industry.” William A. Brady — “I selected Will H. Hays because he was a wise selection.” H. B. Franklin — •“ In the short time in which Mr. Hays has given his efforts to the motion picture he has proven iumself to be a genius in coordination and creating in the motion picture business a spirit of harmony and progress and has placed it in the high standing that it deserves among many that had previously misconstrued the motion pictures.” W. Griffith Mitchell — ■“ Because of his executive ability and efforts to create a better imderstanding of the industry by the public.” Rex Beach — “ Because of his work against censorship.” Geo. J. Schade — “For keeping the screen clean.” Harry Crandall — ■“ Will H. Hays makes a wonderful balance wheel, and for the prestige he brings to the industry.” Here is what Mr. Selznick says: “ I select Mr. Hays for his great work in developing the prestige of the motion picture business; for making hundreds of thousands of new friends for the business, and for his boundless vision and faith, which have been an inspiration to all in the industry.” If Hays is everything L. L. Stewart says of him what chance would there be to eliminate him from any list of the famed in the industry. When a man is regarded as a diplomat, peacemaker and ambassador he is surely endowed with faculties that must inevitably bring great results. Stewart writes : “ Peacemaker, diplomat, ambassador .... the one who has ability and talents to back up these three specifications in an industry like the photoplay, and especially when his energy must swing between the large crowds of people, both inside and outside .... is surely one of the twelve persons of note. In a few short months Will Hays seems to have proved his ability. So, though he is the most recent ‘ big man,' his name is recorded.” Jesse Lasky is unsparing in his praise of Hays. Referring to Mr. Hays in his list, Mr. Lasky says: “ Because of his incisive grasp of the essentials of the economic and, as I might say, sociologic phases of the motion picture. Coming into the work as an outsider, and rapidly assimilating the integral characteristics of the industry, he has already accomplished marvels in readjusting, stabilizing, and establishing a closer understanding between component parts. Will H. Hays is undoubtedly one of the greatest forces which has ever entered our industry.” Sid Grauman — “ He left one of the foremost posts the Government had to offer in order to lend his support and aid to this great industry.’ J. R. Grainger — “Because he steered the motion picture industry to victory in Massachusetts.” R. H. Cochrane — “ Because he established higher ideals for the industry than it ever had before.” Frederick Palmer — ■“ For courage in assuming the role of Daniel in the Lions’ Den.” T. L. Hays — “ I select Will Hays, through whose constructive effort among producers, public opinion regarding the motion picture has been established.” W. C. Quirnby — “ A newcomer in our midst who evidently has accomplished wonderful things in the short time he has been with us.” H. C. Horater — “ Because of his efforts to elevate the motion picture business.”