SEX AND SCREEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 43, 20 February 1929, Page 6

SEX AND SCREEN.

I It is reported that the first story written for the films by Mr. H. G. Wells, entitled, ''The Peace of the World," has been rejected by every producer on the ground that it lacks sex appeal. One lirni is said to have offered £10,000 for the story, provided certain alterations were made to give it a sex interest. Mr. Wells refused to alur •ivhat he had written, and has- published the stoiy under the title of "A Xing Who Was a King." The films have now such a wide appeal tnat it is regrettable to think that they have t<> depend on one aspect of life for their success. Yet apparently this is so. No matter what the subject of a film may be, some form of love story has to be introduced. We see this even in films tnat purport to depict sacred themes. Sometimes the title of a him i≤ altered in order that it may convey some suggestion of sex. Thus the title, "The Admirable Crichton," was altered to '"Male and Female." Novelists find themselves under the temptation of introducing doubtful incidents in order to sell their stories. An otherwise excellent book on Cambridge was entirely spoilt by the introduction of three incidents which had nothing whatever to do with the story itself, and were merely dragged in so as to give the desired sex interest. Formerly incidents" <-i a doubtful character were treated with reserve, and suggested rather than described. To-day this reserve is thrown off, and details of the mo;t unsavoury nature are given without any attempt at concealment. Little is left undescribed, and novels contain passages now that a few year" ago would have led to the book being banned. The greater part of the blame for the present over-emphasis of sex. both o;i the screen and in the novel, must rest with public taste. Publishers and producers woul 1 willingly encourage a better class of film ami novel if the public showed a demand for it. Mr. Wells lias set a good example by refusing t.> allow commercial profit to vitiate the artistic instinct of an author, and it must be to authors rather than publishers and producers that we must look for any real change for the better in the matter of purifying literature and sta.Lre and screen. —W.M.