Boxoffice-January.07.1950
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. . Keep<br />
. . Mr.<br />
. . Hollywood<br />
. . Some<br />
. . The<br />
. . Movies,<br />
what the Press Is Saying About U. S. Films<br />
Editorially, there is<br />
much evidence of an appreciation of the motion picture industry<br />
WASHINGTON — The American press is<br />
showing evidence that it is both recognizing<br />
and appreciating the role of motion pictures<br />
in selling the American story abroad, as a<br />
cultural influence and, as spearhead of a<br />
campaign to fight censorship. This was reported<br />
this week by the Motion Picture Ass'n<br />
of America in a special release "What the<br />
Press is Saying."<br />
The daily press has been particularly vocal<br />
on the role of American films in selling democracy<br />
as a way of life. The association also<br />
quoted Irving Brown, European representative<br />
of the American Federation of Labor, in<br />
a special release which received widespread<br />
editorial and columnar comment.<br />
Printed here are some of the comm.ents on<br />
the industry as reported by the Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n of America:<br />
AMERICAN FILMS ABROAD<br />
In an editorial, the Hinton (W. Va.) "News"<br />
said that "it is no secret that American<br />
movies are immensely popular with European<br />
audiences . Brown rightly warns<br />
that the introduction of conscious propaganda<br />
into Hollywood products would greatly lessen<br />
this appeal. It is the picture of American life<br />
which emerges as a by-product of making a<br />
good film that really carries conviction."<br />
The Scottsbluff (Neb.) "Star-Herald" editorialized<br />
that "In the countries behind the<br />
iron curtain the motion pictures produced in<br />
the United States are attracting capacity<br />
audiences while motion pictures produced in<br />
Russia are being shunned by paying customers.<br />
The reason is obvious. Soviet films are<br />
made for propaganda and nothing else:<br />
American pictures are made for entertainment<br />
. the films as pure entertainment,<br />
let them show the true American way<br />
of life and nothing else—and we'll be making<br />
some fine progress in the direction of a better<br />
world."<br />
ON BETTER PRODUCT<br />
Quotable Quotes on the Industry<br />
RuiLAND, Vt. Herald: Some of the most effective American propaganda<br />
behind the iron curtain is so eagerly welcomed that people pay to see it. To<br />
them, it is not propaganda but entertainment of the most exciting kind. It<br />
opens to them vistas they have never seen, and represents a way of life that is<br />
strange to them. Tlie great impact of American films abroad places a tremendous<br />
responsibility on the motion picture industry in this country because the<br />
films it produces not only entertain but play a part in selling the American way<br />
of life to the world.<br />
Springfield, Mass. Republican: More is being done in this country these<br />
days to imbue children with culture than ever was done anywhere else. The<br />
Motion Picture Ass'n of America has been conducting a Children's Film Library<br />
since 1946 making the film versions of clas.sics and favorite juvenile stories available<br />
to young folk. Participation in such foniis of entertainment and enlightenment<br />
does more than keep boys and girls out of mischief at the time. It gives<br />
them something to look forward to, and something worthwhile to think about<br />
afterward.<br />
Norman, Okla. Daily: Censorship is disliked and distrusted by Americans.<br />
(Commenting on the Tennessee supreme court decision on the banning of<br />
"Curley".) The real question isn't whether the board has the right to ban the<br />
movie. Rather, has it or any state or local board the right to exist at all? The<br />
movies are surrounded by censors ... Of these, only the Johnston office is in any<br />
way necessary . is at last starting to deal with today's problems<br />
in an intelligent and entertaining manner. But thousands of Americans don't see<br />
the results because two or three men on a local censor board don't think they<br />
should. The people are the best judge of what they wish to see.<br />
(111.) "Herald" said that Breen "has a point<br />
when he says that American film critics and<br />
some moviegoers have developed a sort of<br />
snobbery 'which seeks to make it fashionable<br />
to sneer at American films'."<br />
ON CENSORSfflP<br />
The press of the country continued to<br />
applaud<br />
the industry's fight for freedom of the<br />
screen and the abolition of political censorship.<br />
Paul S. Nathan, in "Publishers Weekly," had<br />
this to say: "Whether the screen is in the<br />
process of shaking off its old shackles or Is<br />
about to gain a whole assortment of new ones<br />
The association, in several releases, quoted<br />
Joseph I. Breen as saying Hollywood is producing<br />
some of the best films in its history.<br />
Breen, who is vice-president of the association<br />
is a tough question to answer. ProbabTy the<br />
in charge of the Production Code Ad-<br />
strongest blows for freedom right now are<br />
ministration, also described as a "kind of being struck by the exhibition of such pictures<br />
snobbery" the attitude "which seeks to make<br />
as 'Lost Boundaries,' 'Pinky,' 'Intruder<br />
it fashionable to sneer at American films and in the Dust,' and 'Home of the Brave' in<br />
laud to the skies those that come from whole areas of the South — and the North<br />
abroad."<br />
too — where no censorship issue has been<br />
Columnist Harold Heffernan said that raised regarding them. The breaking down<br />
Breen's remarks have been "applauded so of taboos, even without any attendant legal<br />
loudly by thoughtful members of the industry restrictions, is valuable in extending the range<br />
that he is being urged to repeat it over a of screen expression."<br />
nationwide tour," "In no uncertain terms," The Auburn (N. Y.) "Citizen- Advertiser"<br />
Heffernan said, "Breen tore into that segment commented editorially that the action of the<br />
of moviegoers—fans and critics—who look Memphis Board "will undoubtedly excite attention,<br />
down their noses at everything turned out by<br />
the result of the appeals it<br />
since . . .<br />
Hollywood while applauding the output of may evoke will decide whether film censorship<br />
foreign studios."<br />
constitutional."<br />
is<br />
The Harrisonburg (Va.) •'News-Record" "Most everyone in the north," the editorial<br />
commented that "A run of poor films get said, "and, we hope, quite a few in the south,<br />
people out of the custom of steady patronage, anxiously await decisions . feel that<br />
while good ones lure them back and even add they may be taken as a direct index to American<br />
to the regular clientele ... It is interesting to<br />
enlightenment."<br />
know that Hollywood recognizes the need for<br />
better movies, and for fewer propaganda<br />
films."<br />
CHILDREN'S FILM LIBRARY<br />
The Children's Film Library was organized<br />
Columnist David V. Felts in the Decatur in 1946 under the direction of Eric Johnston<br />
BOXorncE January 7, 1950<br />
to make available to theatres throughout the<br />
nation films specifically suitable for children.<br />
In recent weeks the program has drawn widespread<br />
favorable comment in editorials.<br />
The Wakefield (Mass.) "Item" said that a<br />
"new force in the motion picture industry<br />
has been organized and brought into 3,500<br />
theatres throughout the country ... In addition<br />
to the 54 films which are a part of the<br />
Children's Film Library, established by Eric<br />
Johnston, 150 other films have been added to<br />
the rapidly growing stockpile of top-notch<br />
entertainment for children ... Its effects<br />
can be nothing but salutary."<br />
Columnist Gita Packer in the Ft. Worth<br />
(Texas) "Star-Telegram" described the Children's<br />
Film Library as "a service of the motion<br />
picture industry which enables millions<br />
of kids in America to see specially selected<br />
movies."<br />
MOTION PICTURES AND CULTURE<br />
Commenting on this contribution of the<br />
motion picture, the Springfield (111.) "State<br />
Journal" said that "in one of its regular and<br />
frequent dispatches, the Motion Picture Ass'n<br />
.<br />
reminds us that the cinema is a strong ally<br />
Hollywood stresses the<br />
of the library . . .<br />
visual selling power of the motion picture in<br />
making literature alive . . . We encourage the<br />
Hollywood colony in its efforts to produce<br />
movies of lasting value and with cultural<br />
depth road ahead is long, but It is<br />
comforting to see Hollywood is looking up to<br />
scan It."<br />
Columnist E. J. Dias, in the New Bedford<br />
(Mass.) "Standard-Times" commented that<br />
"too many of us sometimes are inclined to<br />
overlook Hollywood's beneficial influences on<br />
the American scene . in many cases,<br />
(Continued on page 10)