OBSTRUCTION OF BRITISH FILMS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25581, 24 August 1948, Page 5

OBSTRUCTION OF BRITISH FILMS

ANTI BRITISH GROUP IN U.S. PICKETING OF THEATRES (Snecial Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, August 22. British newspapers have recently published reports from the United States suggesting that American film producers who object to the British quota restrictions upon the exhibition of American films in Britain are using the activities of the anti-British Sons of Liberty League as a cloak for an undeclared boycott of British films in the United States. It is alleged that at the first hint of picketing by the Sons of Liberty League, British films have been taken off, whereas similar threats against the sales of British goods in America have been ignored. The latest development is the decision of Sir Alexander Korda not to send any more films to the United States “until the trouble blows over.” American, cinemas claim that picketing by the Sons of Liberty League has forced them to withdraw three of Sir Alexander Korda’s pictures, this week. Commenting on this, Sir Alexander Korda said: “The Sons of Liberty have not stopped British cloth and Scotch whisky from being sold, but when it comes to films they are taken off immediately. It would appear that some American interests might use the boycott as a retaliation for the British Government’s film quota.” The J. A. Rank' organisation admits that the release date for its film “Oliver Twist,” which is to have its premiere in New York, has been postponed, though Mr Rank denied that this was because of an American boycott. On the other hand, efforts by the Sons of Liberty to picket the premiere of the British “Hamlet” in Boston signally failed, according to reports. The film was entirely booked out and it was acclaimed by the Boston newspapers as the best moving picture of all time. Fifteen anti-British pickets outside the theatre were completely submerged by the crowd trying to get in. Professor Smertenko, organiser of the Sons of Liberty League, said later that he was reserving his full boycott campaign against the film until it opened in New York. Japanese War Criminals Hanged.— Ten Japanese war criminals were hanged at the Sugaro prison. All were convicted of being responsible for, or having contributed to, the murder of Allied war prisoners.—Tokyo, August 22.