Motography (Jul-Dec 1917)

November 24, 1917. MOTOGRAPHY 1087 Industry Will Suppress Anti-War Films TAKES DECIDED STAND AGAINST PICTURES THAT HINDER PROSECUTION OF WAR FILM producers of the country have agreed to aid the government in the suppression of any motion pictures that will hinder the successful operation of the war. The action was decided upon last week at the request of the department of justice. The request was presented by United States Attorney Caffey in an address to a gathering of film men in the headquarters of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry in New York last week. In his address Attorney Chaffey said: "Several months ago complaints came into the Department of Justice as to the effect that was being had on certain portions of the community in various parts of the country by some of the films at the moving picture shows. Government Gets Hearty Rtsponse "We immediately took it up with the officials of the companies here, and had the heartiest response in respect to the matter. "My assistant, Mr. Barnes, had the matter in immediate charge and had several conversations with the officials of the companies and intended to be here this morning. "Mr. Elliott was kind enough to notify us of this meeting and as Mr. Barnes has carried on the matter I designated him to attend, but he is prevented, and I came without full knowledge of all the details of his conversations with the officials of the various companies; but I do know the general purport of those conversations, and the general idea of the government in dealing with this matter." Co-operation Assured "It is nothing more than this: "That they wanted to bring the matter to the attention of the people at the source, who had the power to control the general character of the picture shows, feeling assured that they would have in respect to this matter, as they have had in respect to other requests, the fullest co-operation of the organizations. "Now, I haven't any specific complaints to lay before you, or any specific problems, but I merely want to repeat to you what has been said in detail to some of the officials, that in some parts of the country it had been felt that some of the pictures were having an adverse influence on the state of mind of the people with respect to the war. "You have knowledge of the general character of the shows in your control, I assume, and I am sure feel the responsibility of what is perhaps the greatest single educational influence in this country today. "Speaking from my own standpoint, as going occasionally to your shows, I can hardly conceive a greater demonstration of the fine spirit that animates the conduct of your industry in respect to the war than I personally have witnessed in your shows." Support Is Pledged Arthur S. Friend, who presided at the meeting, replied for the manufacturers that anything of an adverse nature which had appeared upon the screen must have been inadvertent, as every producer in the country was endeavoring to further the wishes of the administration in the conduct of the war. He offered the services of the National Association and of the producers' branch in any steps which might be taken and said that if concrete examples of adverse screen literature were presented to the association, prompt measures would be taken. Spirit of the Moment Caught by Film IF there is one thing which the art of the moving picture capitalizes above another in its stories it is timeliness. The "As common as an old shoe" is an eloquent compa shoe Mabel Xormand is wearing in nson. And what could be more common than the old this scene from "Joan of Plattsburg." Russian autocracy crashes into the dust, and at least four films are flung upon the screens of America recording the greatest modern revolution in story form. Famous crimes, great cataclysms, new discoveries, almost every angle of the day's news, find their way quickly to the screen. For this reason the Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, which is bringing Mabel Normand back to the films after a year's absence, is proud of the fact that in the words of the newspaper office, it has "beaten" _ the industry and scored a "scoop" in the case of Miss Normand's first vehicle, Porter Emerson Browne's "Joan of Plattsburg," which will be released December 2. It is not alone the first film to utilize that much talked-of camp of the student officers. It is also the first to show the life of our new army in training and the first to 'handle the stirring theme of America's part in the war, in a way that is both inspiriting and yet untouched by powder, guns and death. "Joan of Plattsburg" is primarily a comedy, as befits its star, first of screen comediennes. But it is also, if one may coin a phrase, idealistic comedy. Its heroine is a "charter orphan" in one of those grim institutions where parentless children lighten their lonely little lives with pranks and mischievous laughter. Into her existence comes a book, "Joan of Arc," — and a soldier. Little Joan of Plattsburg, N. Y., would be a second Jeanne d'Arc. She finds an old clothes boiler and makes herself armor. She plans great deeds for her country. And then — comes the great Chance. There in her own home she stumbles upon a spy-plot involving grave disaster to her country. Still a funny little figure out of comedy, she rises to necessity and becomes indeed a modern Joan.