tionwide campaign against unwholesome and salacious films.
The Central Conference of American Rabbis at their annual convention denounced such films in a resolution which pointed out the harmful influence exerted by many motion pictures upon the public mind and morals, especially upon the youth. Similar criticism is expected to be made at the annual convention of the Rabbinical Assembly of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. The Vatican has instructed the Catholic clergy to establish “Legions of Decency” to combat immoral and unwholesome films. The Federation of Churches in Christ has also adopted measures to combat the offensive and injurious films which produce a corrupting influence on the youth.
While it is a dangerous precedent to establish a religious supervision or censorship over one of the most far-reaching agencies which could mold opinion and character for good or evil, it is a fact that many of the producers of motion pictures, in their quest for ever greater financial gain, often stoop to the basest methods of luring the public, old and young, by films which distort life and which overemphasize the sensual and the criminal for box office purposes.
Although the artistic standard of some of the latest films has been raised, there are still many films that show no sense of responsibility or decency on the part of the producers. A way should be found to make the producers realize that they cannot use this great medium of expression merely for the purpose of enriching themselves, and at the cost of demoralizing the youth. The only thing that will convince such producers that they are wrong is that the public stay away from films of a harmful and salacious type.
Censorship is one of the most dangerous weapons in a democracy. There is no telling where censorship may end once it is established. The greatest masterpieces of literature may be suppressed by overzealous and ill-informed censors. A campaign of education is necessary in order that the public may become its own censor. Such censorship would be effective. Such censorship the producers would understand and feel.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
