Judge, 1927-11-05 · page 23 of 36
Judge — November 5, 1927 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Hollywood's response to Federal Trade Commission antitrust action against Paramount Pictures. The producers, facing legal consequences for violating anti-trust laws, convened to "whitewash the industry's record." Will Hays, the film industry's spokesperson, proclaimed the movie industry "the most highly competitive industry ever known to man"—an absurd claim given the monopolistic practices that prompted the investigation. The producers then presented a self-regulatory code called "Resolutions and Don'ts," tearfully delivered by Louis Mayer. Judge mocks this as performative ethics: the studios claimed they'd "be very good boys" if allowed off, essentially using a toothless code of conduct to avoid genuine legal consequences. The illustration "Helping Him Out" appears to depict industry figures assisting someone in distress—likely satirizing how the code functioned as a rescue mechanism for the implicated studios rather than genuine reform.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
¥ | JUDGE | ( MC | The Movie Guide \ (Shows continuous unless otherwise noted.) “Big Parade” (Warwick, Cameo)—Still march- | ont rank of the better pictures. E Lions, tigers and that’s | | all me ans. . i | aA nor, Coney Island, Spooner)— i) Buster Keaton in the only funny picture that has been made in months. | “Garden of Allah’’ (Embassy, Twice Daily)—If | i] | ue Federal Trade Commis- | geet tatoo pretty pictures and stupid chance for the incompetent. or | sion has been raising cain “Ri cae Twice Daily.) the unfit to survive.” So much | with the movie producers for Will Hays. these last few months and the | The producers then got to- Paramount Company is now | , Ce enough to make | gether and told the Chairman of under indictment for violating | ei the Federal Committee that they the anti-trust law. The produc- ae we would all be very good boys if | ers have flagrantly been operat- | There's | be would only let them off this | ing against the law, most people , time. Not only that, but they agree, and the Commission seems we ahow: laid down a code of ethics called to be on their track in earnest moor males food iu sone, “Resolutions and Don'ts” which | just now. The Hollywood fat The ore Prince” (Astor, Twice, Daly) was tearfully presented by Mr. ae ng to an old grad tell about his college : - F | boys called a conference to t perfectly terrible “ Louis Mayer, the spokesman for : 3: ew's Theatre) —Macl . G el . to whitewash the industry's wise ares Pilg) aciiee 8 the producers. This list com- record and Will Hays gave way | Trig mclodrama well done. og, | Drised about thirty-five don'ts. I to a forensic orgasm in which he | Astora’—iiut’ of coure, souvesenst’ "* | reprint a few of them here so proclaimed that: “the movie in- | ig hina (Criterion, Twice Daily) Ans Gest | that you may realize the import { 7 i: > i = | the better ones. oe | dustry is the most highly com EEE ONE a Flak” ( smit Jannings | Of this great regeneration that is petitive industry ever known to bidding fair to become the most popular actoron | Sweeping through the Hollywood man, and there is absolutely no | se | (Continued on page 30) i} | | | Helping Him Out | comicbooks.com