Moving Picture Age (Nov-Dec 1919)

12 MOVING PICTURE AGE pressions of its details were still fresh in their minds. And it tells the story. Not the least of the credit due for the picture's presentation should go to Mr. Joseph C. Briel, who composed the score for "The Birth of a, Nation." As played by the orchestra the music keeps pace with the action. It is suggestive of the bustle and rush of battle; it sounds the tragedy of the battalion's death stand against overwhelming forces; it sings of the men's bravery under the distress of hope dying as day followed day; and it echoes the triumphant shouts that greeted the wearied and wounded men when relief finally came. General Alexander (in uniform) directing the production of the film that reproduces the historic fight. "The Lost Battalion" is to be shown this season as one of the leading films on the theatrical entertainment programs. It should meet with the success it deserves. National Board of Review and City Officials Confer on Screen Censorship The annual conference of city officials of eastern cities and the National Board of Review closed -recently with the adoption of resolutions against motion picture censorship of a political character. The conference was called for the purpose of enabling the National Board to come into closer touch with public opinion in various_ communities throughout the country as expressed by their respective officials in charge of motion picture regulation. During the conference the officials had the opportunity of listening to the points of view of men actually engaged in motion picture production. Mr. Rupert Hughes, the playwright, pointed out the danger inherent in censorship of motion pictures through its tendency to restrict the thought and expression already before the public in_ book form, surrounding it with conventional and narrowminded morality. D. W. Griffith spoke from the' standpoint of the producer, emphasizing that the motion picture directors wanted only the same freedom for the screen as is granted to the book, the periodical and the stage. Mr. Walter W. Irwin in reviewing the part the motion picture played during the war said that if the League of Nations comes to pass, one instrument which it will be able to use as speaking a universal language will be the motion picture in order to bring about a common understanding among men. Mr. Wm. P. Capes, Secretary of the New York State Conference of Mayors and Other City Officials, emphasized the necessity on the part of motion picture producers of coming in closer contact with the point of view of the person living in the small community in which the motion picture furnishes almost the only type of entertainment of a theatrical character. Announcing the adoption of the censorship resolution, Dr. Everett D. Martin, Chairman of the National Board of Review, said: "The fact that various communities are willing to send representatives to counsel with The National Board of Reviewin the matter of regulation of motion pictures is an evidence of a new and better civic spirit. We must get away from the rule of thumb, from the mere police point of view. We must learn how to take a stand against indecent exhibitions and at the same time prevent our righteousness from becoming both indispensable and unendurable. * * * We must discourage the habit of militant [minorities seeking to force their will upon the community through jthe instrumentalities of governmental restraint." The resolution as adopted follows : Resolved That the Conference of City Officials with the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures declares its opposition to governmental official censorship of motion pictures upon the following grounds, viz. : 1. As the motion picture is universally conceded to be one of the greatest agencies for educational uplift, no unreasonable or unpractical restrictions should be placed upon it. State or Municipal Censorship would produce so great a number and variety of standards as to make this method, in fact, ineffective. 2. While we do not favor an official consorship, we believe that_ a voluntary review, such as now furnished by the National Board, with its information service to municipal officers, is both wise and useful. 3. Public opinion is a final safe regulator of good taste in art, and a spirit of co-operation with producers and exhibitors will accomplish all and more than any plan of official censorship. 4. A proper exercise of constituted authority will be found sufficient, we believe, to meet any specific need. The sentiment and action of the conference on several other subjects were also formulated in the following terms: Unsafe Policy The representatives of the cities charged with the regulation of motion pictures, in conference with the National Board of Review, are convinced that the present policy of using the seal of passage of the National Board of Review on only a part of the picture, is an unwise and an unsafe one. It, therefore, urges, to increase the confidence of the public, that the seal be incorporated as an integral part of every picture, following the main title, to catch the attention of the theatergoing public. The representatives of the cities charged with the regulation of motion pictures, in conference with the National Board of Review, are convinced from long experience that the posters, cuts and other publicity matter used in connection with many dramatic films are misleading and have a harmful effect on the general as well as the amusement seeking public. Therefore, it requests the producers of motion pictures to confine their posters, lobby displays and newspaper publicity to dramatic incidents actually a part of the film plot, and which do not misinterpret incidents. When dramatic incidents are presented, they further suggest that great care be exercised to avoid a morbid or sensual appeal in such advertising. Committees were appointed to make a study of motion picture comedies and motion picture advertising, making report to the members of the conference, and to the association of Motion Picture Advertisers. Prominent Officials in Attendance Among those attending the conference were the following: Guy R. Haley, President, Citizen's Commission on Motion Pictures, Milwaukee, Wis.; Dean P. Otis, Commissioner of Recreation, Elizabeth, N. J. ; Walter J. Nicholson, Commissioner of Public Safety, Syracuse, N. Y. ; Sergeant Richard Gamble, Inspector of Amusements, Providence, R. I. ; Wm. P. Capes, Director of the State Bureau of Municipal Research of the New York State Conference of Mayors and Other City Officials, Albany, N. Y. ; Raymond W. Pullman, Major and Superintendent Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, D. C. ; John M. Casey, Chief of the Licensing Division, Mayor's Office, Boston, Mass. ; Dr. Henry McManus, representing Mayor Kinsella of Hartford, Conn. ; William J. Brenan, Director of Public Safety, Newark, N. J. ; Joseph O. McShane, representing the Department of Licenses of New York City; Lester F. Scott, Executive Secretary, Camp Fire Girls of America; Rev. Wm. B. Tower, Department of Surveys, Methodist Board of Foreign Missions ; Everett Dean Martin, Director of Cooper Union Forum and Chairman of the National Board of Reviews; Dr. Orlando F. Lewis, General Secretary, Prison Association of New York; Henry E. Jenkins, District Superintendent of Schools, New York City; Ralph Folks, Attorney-at-law ; Louis F. Rouillion, Director of the Mechanics Institute ; Edward L. Hoffman, Secretary of the Mechanics Institute; P. F. Jerome, International Committee of Y. M. C. A.; A. D. Kuttner, Dramatic Critic : Wm. D. McGuire, Warren M. Covill, Wilton A. Barrett and Orrin G. Cocks of the National Board staff. Mrs. L. J. Halle is trying an interesting experiment with young children in a school located between Kew Gardens and Forest Park, Long Island. She is showing non-romantic stories and scenic or nature pictures afternoons to a carefully reared group and to their parents in the evening. Mrs. Halle finds the children are enthusiastic over the Lincoln Cycle and the animal films and that they like the fine adventurous pictures in which boys and girls appear.