JUVENILE CRIME—AND THE MOVIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 15 April 1939, Page 4

JUVENILE CRIME—AND THE MOVIES

The blame for the increase in juvenile crime should not be laid at the doors | of our cinemas (says the "Screen Pic- j torial”).

The danger of unsuitable films being seen by children is usually an indirect one. Few boys, having seen a gangster picture, wish to go out and hold up their parents, or anyone else, at the point of a gun. It is the acceptance of fals-' standards of life which such films encourage, an acceptance which, among adults is inexcusable, but among chil-l dren is a natural reaction.

In Britain the law, as a general rule, forbids children to act for the screen until they are over 14 years of age. For this reason the studios have been unaffected by the epidemic of young hopefuls which is sweeping Hollywood today. Encouraged by the demand for child actors, and dazzled by the salaries to be won. hundreds of parents are besieging American executives with their offspring.

These children, many with rouged lips and dyed hair, fill the casting offices

of Hollywood every day. Precocious of manner and specially coached to please directors, they are becoming a serious problem, not only to the studios, but to child welfare bureaux. Children and animals ha/e long been known in the profession as the best scene-stealers. So great is the popularity of the child stars to-day that for a time at least they have stolen the screen itself. t