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F!ynr>, poHrayer of America's heAbove, in "Dodge City" . . .
. . . and as a Union Army officer in the rousing "Virginia City" . . .
a Wes* Point officer in "Santa Fe Trail" with de Haviliand . . .
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America's most famous woman reporter brings you the honest, plain-spoken truth about the grave accusations this Hollywood favorite now faces
AS nearly as I can remember, it was about twenty-three years ago that I wrote my first story for Photoplay Magazine. Because I believe that motion pictures are the most vital influence upon public thought in the world today, I have always felt an obligation to carry out the editorial policy of Photoplay which at all times has been to speak the truth to the public about motion pictures and the truth to the motion pictures about the public.
Which brings us to the case of Errol Flynn.
To begin with. it is manifestly impossible for any magazine devoted to the works and people of the movies to ignore a case which occupies the front pages of newspapers all over the
world and which is discussed whereever people gather, no matter how difficult to achieve fairness and impartiality in so delicate a situation.
In my own personal experience I have heard the Errol Flynn case discussed and I have been questioned about it at an important tea in Washington; at an aircraft plant; at a military academy; during a delightful evening with the publisher of a highbrow literary review; at my hairdresser's; and on trains.
In these times that may seem strange, but it is true.
Photoplay has had hundreds of letters asking why it doesn't come to the defense of this screen favorite who they say has been accused by publicity-seeking girls crazy to get into
Flynn with his attorney, Jerry Geisler, at the preliminary hearing
the movies and by others demanding in justice to the rest of the Hollywood stars, who behave themselves and sell War Bonds, that Errol Flynn be cast into outer darkness. Upon one thing they all agree. They want the opinion or judgment of Hollywood's foremost motion-picture magazine.
As nearly as we can come to that in justice and fairness we now propose to try. But we must ask your consideration of one or two problems. First, Photoplay finds itself up against that arbitrary tyrant called the deadfine, of which the reader seldom thinks. A certain length of time must pass between the writing of this story and its appearance in your hands. Much may be revealed of which we could not know at the time I write. But this should reach you three or four days before Mr. Flynn is called into the Superior Court of Los Angeles County to answer the District Attorney's charge against him of statutory rape upon two girls under the legal age of consent, which in California is eighteen.
It is now so grave and far-reaching a matter that it must be faced. First because it necessarily involves all Hollywood, which has too often been called upon to suffer en masse for the sins of its individual members. But most of all because Mr. Flynn has become part of America.
For Errol Flynn has had the great good fortune to portray upon the screen the heroes of our country. He
photoplay combined u'ith movie mirroi