Bravo, But…

BRAVO, BUT . . .

What a joy it was to look at the op-ed pieces in the Los Angeles Times on July 21, 1999 and find the signatures of a distinguished group of American leaders from all walks of life, some of whom are close friends, on an article calling for the entertainment industry to adopt a new code of broadcasting.

This was encouraging because, as the chairman of Christian Film and Television Commission, I have been calling for the entertainment industry to adopt such a code for over 15 years, ever since we inherited the files from George Heimrich, Director of the Protestant Film Office, whose advice helped the movie industry to flourish during the Golden Age of Hollywood. To, at last, have some of these leaders join in this effort to bring back sense and sensibility to the entertainment industry was wonderful.

He who forgets history is doomed to repeat it.

Regrettably, the way the article was written, it seemed like these leaders felt that a code was enough to solve the entertainment industry problems. The motion picture studios adopted the original Motion Picture Code in the 1920s, but they didn’t observe it. Yes, they agreed to this adaptation of the 10 commandments, but those agreements were unenforce­able. It was not until 1932, when three astute men, Daniel Day Lord, Martin Quigley and Joseph Breen, devised an effective strategy including the review services of the church film offices that enforcement became possible.

Several factors helped the code to be effective in 1932.

One, the laws at that time were on the side of morality in the mass media of entertain­ment. This was before the Supreme Court decisions in the early 1950s which effectively gave undue protection to the movie industry by putting entertainment on the same level as political speech and in the late 1970s which vitiated the National Association of Broadcast­ers Code.

Secondly, communities were on the side of the code. There were over 350 rating boards in local communities around the United States at that time who enforced local entertainment codes.

Thirdly, theaters were on the side of the code. They were willing to enforce the fines against companies that released films that violated the provisions of the code because they were in close contact with their local communities.

Finally, the church was on the side of the code. The church at that time was willing to act as one body with regard to standing for righteousness and opposing immorality. There was no split between liberal and conservative churches, or between mainline and evangeli­cal. In fact, the first church film office united the entire body of Christ!

Therefore, it is great to see more concerned people calling for the entertainment indus­try to adopt a new code, but it is going to take much more to reform Hollywood. It is impor­tant that all the elements and people pieces come together to make sure that this new effort doesn’t fizzle out. Men and women of integrity must not become paper tigers who just issue statements.

Now that the momentum is building, an informed strategy and wise action are required.