As the representative of leading producers and distributors of American films, I can say that in no industry or art will be found men and women more earnest to progress in the right way. With a full sense of our responsibilities, and an ardor toward perfection, we are at work to do the best possible things for the motion picture and its world-wide audience. Mr. Van Zile not only gives us a word of cheer, but he puts into the public mind some thoughts about pictures which will pay for their lodging. WILL H. HAYS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE INTRODUCTION. BY WILL H. HAYS v I. —THE MOVIE’S NEW SIGNIFICANCE 1 II. —THE MOVIE AT ITS BIRTH 19 III. —THE MOVIE’S FIRST STEPS 33 IV. —THE MOVIE GOES TO THE BAD 45 V. —THE MOVIE DEVELOPS A CONSCIENCE 59 VI. —THE MOVIE AND THE LIBRARY 69 VII. —THE MOVIE’S APPETITE FOR PLOTS 81 VIII. —THE MOVIE AND THE CONTINUITY 93 WRITER IX. —THE MOVIE IMPROVES ITS MORALS 103 X. —THE MOVIE MAKETH—WHAT KIND OF A 115 MAN? XI. —THE MOVIE AND THE COMMITTEE ON 125 PUBLIC RELATIONS XII. —THE MOVIE AS A PEDAGOGUE 135 XIII. —THE MOVIE INTERPRETING THE PAST 145 XIV. —THE MOVIE TAKES ON NEW FUNCTIONS 155 XV. —THE MOVIE AS A WORLD POWER 165 XVI. —THE MOVIE AND THE CENSOR 177 XVII. —THE MOVIE AS A WORLD-LANGUAGE 189 XVIII. —THE MOVIE AS THE HOPE OF 201 CIVILIZATION APPENDIX A—STATISTICS SHOWING THE 215 SCOPE OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY APPENDIX B—THE SCREEN AS A NEW LIFE 218 GIVER TO LITERARY CLASSICS APPENDIX C—WHAT MASSACHUSETTS 221 THINKS OF MOTION PICTURE CENSORSHIP APPENDIX D—SIGNIFICANT DATES IN THE 222 EVOLUTION OF THE MOTION PICTURE APPENDIX E—WHAT THE MOVIE HAS DONE 224 FOR A GREAT RAILROAD APPENDIX F—FACTS AND FIGURES 225 SHOWING THAT THE SCREEN HAS BECOME THE FIRST WORLD CONQUEROR