A bad example will not justify you in writing a play containing
objectionable scenes. The safe ground is the best ground because it is
right.
The following list of features disapproved by the National Board of
Censorship gives a good general idea of the things that may be
regarded as under the ban, not in one or two special cities, but
throughout the country. It is not a copy of an official list, as, to
the best of our knowledge, none such is sent out; it is merely a draft
prepared by Mr. John F. Pribyl, then with the Selig Company, after he
had had a conversation on the subject with the Secretary of the
National Board, Mr. Walter Story, and courteously transmitted by Mr.
Pribyl to the authors of this volume.
DISAPPROVED BY THE NATIONAL BOARD OF CENSORSHIP
_The Unwritten Law:_ The Board does not recognize the so-called
unwritten law as a justification for the killing of any being.
_Crime:_ 1. When crime is the obvious purpose of the picture--that is,
when the whole story hinges on the perpetrated crime.
2. When the crime is repulsive and shocks the spectator.
3. The shooting in "cold blood" of any being.
4. Any crime that portrays a unique method of execution.
_Suicide:_ The Board will not pass a picture in which there is a
suicide or any suggestion of a suicide, with incidents leading
thereto.
Pages:
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314