PRIVATE VIEW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 175, 26 July 1930, Page 1 (Supplement)

PRIVATE VIEW.

HOW THE CENSOR WORKS.

FRIENDLY co-operation.

(By QUENTIN POPE.). Li f

(Tlie censor met me at the door, and as \ ve moved up went the lift, hurriedly he had telephoned the firm Which lent him its tiny studio, and the grin made no objection. So that mornJ "was to see the routine of a work-a-day censorship, the examination Sch la/ behind that brief but alljmportant certificate which nightly flickered upon the screen of hundreds of movie theatres, noble temples and converted country halls. . The lift slowed and stopped. The big office of the famous firm which had eritered the film world with the advent »f the talkies was opulent, quiet and thickly carpeted. Beyond was the perfect theatre, hung with soft draperies, seating only a score with, on the left a oreat shining switchboard, and the throb of music in the air. The young mechanic who was amusing himself by S a record on the £3000 machine fis tapping time with his feet. Like Everyone, he cried liis greeting, and was received with a cheerful smile. This was no relationship of authority aid power of veto, you felt, but a Saris of mutual co-operation and liking. Sn we took our seats in the centre of tiny room, and faced the porous £reen, * "lute expanse, with an odd grain, ' designed not to impede the great horns behind, hut giving the films a curiously honeycombed look. "Well, Mr. Black," said the censor io the manager of a famous firm. Mr. Black flicked the pages of a notebook; , [

A Full Morning. ! tfWild Rides,'" ihe said, "five thousand feet And then 'Sombre Silk.' That's longer. It will he a full morning, I think Then there are some shorts, hut we'll ask you to fit those in whenever you can.. There is no hurry." At his elbow was another man. "Mr. Laishley would like to know-if vou can see some of his shorts this week," he said. "Could it be by Friday!" "v ■ # i The censor snapped the band on his potebook. I "Tuesday morning's gone," he said. "So is Wednesday. Tell him Thursday. I'll fit them in." • # Murmured thanks and a retreating

fccick* v i • i ! Again the censor settled in his chair. When you're ready, Mr. Roberts," Jie called to the operator in his elevated box. "As soon as you like." Flicking over the large sheets which had been placed in his hand he said, "A long morning's'work." ' A switch snapped and the world went but. Then came the song of the machine ■ R8 -its beam cut the darkness and the work began. It was a curiously dispassionate business. A film uncensored looked very like one which had already • received attention. One remembered that every one of these films had already engaged the attention of some form of censorship board or film-appointed committee. The first "feature", was a Western etory. It had a conventionally sound story, an unusually beautiful heroine wjth, character as well as curves, and some keen observation in character • work/ The film slowly unwound ;|>efore our eyes. The beginning, and end of reels stood out in startling label? projected- upon the- screen. As each final tag spurted into life the censor leaned • forward ancf a light affixed to the front of his seat clicked on. He made a brief entry in his notebook and settled back again. Hindful of'his injunction on the way up in the lift, I made no comment Jipon the merit of the films. , de picture whirred to its climax, a gun : battle with manifold, thrills. The hero took the heroine in his arms,; while afar the comedian jested. ... Suddenly there was a diversion.' The lights shot Jip as _ the (> machine stopped and a mechanic, striding over to one shrouded frail,. flung back the curtain's length tod revealed • wide sheets of glass -and the winter sunshine over /the city; Pre; Beitly an explanation came as some men ttt the back rose and went out. "Someone got in who had no business pere," I learned. "It didn't much matter for this film, but they are not going to 1 feliow ,the next one. They are very decretive ' about what.'they have to Release and don't want him to see it." The someone was a theatre-owner. Apparently, that particular exchange ,was not doing business with him just .Mien. Seated at the back he had been snaking notes about the film, but the next, a special feature, was jealously , jguarded. - "Will Have to Come Out." So we turned to the consideration of Jtfloee snippets of film which adorn the Beginnings'of programmes in the cities. Two people made dialect jokes, moderate and good, and finally began a song. & ■ y oun g man invaded a cabaret and there gave number after number to the .immense satisfaction of the attendant •people, A cartoon blossomed into the craziest of, amusing imaginings. A famous! violinist played. And the censor's '• nght snapped on and off. He broke his own rule to signify his appreciation of the clever cartoon. He remained alert prough the screening' of two comedies. _*That last bit will have to come out," Be said in comment upon a superfluity $o one unusual picture. "It's silly." ' W, and it was also unnecessary. The picture was complete without an episode which was calculated to annoy ft number of people. ' " dazzled its final label on the screen. There remained half-an-hour • and the censor was nothing if not industrious. His demand for more was i readily answered. A young man shot away into the unknown and there came spools of films, more crackling pieces of paper. Entries were made in the rubber-banded notebook. Film after mm passed by after a meticulously carelul examination. There was a long column in the notebook now. Dialogue ?**ts came into the censor's hands, too, ••"or a film I saw yesterday," he fsplained. "There is a song in it that • must have another look at, 150 I must *&ke it home and read it through. There r ® Col »plications, you know, since 00 an. W0I "k became talkie." The final film clicked to its end, the Voices stilled and the lights came on *gain. 0

Well," said the censor, "that's how 8 do'ie. A good morning's work. The «ame thing this afternoon. I'm sorry ypu missed that feature, but they have tu'Le Careful." a

It "Was the lunch hour and we went out together. But not to eat. The censor was rushing back to his office to do some of the clerical work that attends ne work of examining pictures. I have he best authority for saying that hie unch hour was spent in signing certificates fur various iilm exchanges.