At the turn of the 20th Century, moving pictures proved to be a new art form and possible mass manipulator. Realizing anything could be shown, and anyone could get ideas from, decency and protection should be instated. But what exactly was decent and/or threatening, and who decided that for the masses was to come under scrutiny as movie goers wanted to be entertained and learn more from the new medium. And theaters and burgeoning studios soon realized literal titillation was the best way to attract interest and gain profits. Ethics v. Free Enterprise is still a hot button topic to this day. This movie is great in covering the early history of the booming interest and empires film was to create. The innocence to the scandalous film makers created and/or received for their works. And the areas in America that felt viewer conditioning and protection were most needed. Surprisingly enough, much was concentrated in the north east states. And more surprising, the longest hold out to censor publicly screened movies was Baltimore. The birth place and proving grounds for Baron Of Bad Taste - John Waters. How did film makers and studios get around diverse and arcane acceptance and tolerance? What was the true effect subversive scenes could cause on the general public? Who and how should anyone be punished for making and/or viewing such subjective material? In one way, the movie shows how censorship was as weak and puritan as The Scopes Trial and McCarthyism. Yet, also leaves it open ended for the viewer to decide 'how much is TOO much?' And where the line of entertainment to indoctrination should be drawn.
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