Hays Retiring, Speculation On Successor

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22043, 16 August 1941, Page 8

Hays Retiring, Speculation On Successor

Joseph I. Breen, who caused a sensation when he resigned his post as the film industry's censor, will replace Will Hays as head of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributor’s Association, according to reports in the Hollywood trade press from New York. These reports followed statements that Will Hays, who had been in a Chicago hospital for some time, would retire on half pay during the balance of his contract, which has more than four years to run. When Breen undertook to enforce a revised code of morals for the Hays office in June, 1934, many persons in Hollywood declared that he would quit before the end of the year. But Breen continued in his difficult position for nearly seven years and did a masterful job for at least five. Subsequently bitter arguments occured between Breen and many producers on the question of what Was and was not proper to set forth on the screen. Reports in recent months were that Breen did not always win his points. On tendering his resignation, he said he wanted a complete rest, but soon afterward came published statements that he would take over the supervision of production at R.K.O.

There is much speculation as to Breen’s future movements. Meanwhile the present position is set out thus in the "Hollywood Reporter’s dispatch from New York: "Industry biggies here make no secret of their desire to keep Breen away from any studio tieup, and R.K.O. (which recently announced Breen as its new general manager), said it would realease him from his contract if the need in the other post was greater than its need for his services. Breen says nothing and looks bewildered by the cross-currents of pressure being brought to bear on him.”