Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1916)

Record Details:

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The Story of David Wark Griffith 93 not alone the first expense, but the incessant fighting we had to do to keep the picture going, that cost. "We spent over $250,000 the first six month-., combatting stupid persecution brought against the picture by ill iTiinded censors and politicians who were playing for the negro vote. "] awyers had to be retained at every place wo took the picture, and we paid out enough in rents for theaters where we were not allowed to show the picture to make an average film profitable. "But we finally v on. •Now we are showing the picture with no hindrance, and most of those who opposed ns at first, arc now either admirers oi the picture or quiescent, "While on tins censorship, this drooling travesty o( sense. 1 want to say something that I have said hefore, but which is essential to a right understanding of my purposes and work. The forem o s t u ■e* Here is Florence Lawrence in what is educators of the said to be the first close-up ever made. C0Untrv have urged The picture was directed by Mr. " . . Griffith. Above is Charles West, one uPon moving picof the early Biographers, who is still ture producers to a popular player. put away the slap stick comedies, the ridiculous sentimental 'mush' stories, the imitation of the fiction of the cheap magazines and go into the fields of history for our subjects. "They have told us repeatedly that the motion picture can impress upon a people as much of the truth of history in an evening as many months of study will accomplish. As one eminent divine said of pictures, 'They teach history by lightning!' "We would like very much to do this, but the very reason for the slapstick and the worst that is in pictures is censorship. Let those who tell us to uplift our art, invest money in the production of a historic play of the life of Christ. 'They will find that this cannot be staged without incurring the wrath of a certain part of our people. 'The Massacre of St. Bartholomew,' if reproduced, will cut off the toes of another part of our people.