SCENTS AND SCENTSORSHIP

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28980, 22 August 1959, Page 12

SCENTS AND SCENTSORSHIP

IBv

WHIM WHAM

The first of the “smellies," Mike Todd, jnr.’s “Scent of Mystery." ts nearing completion, according to the “New York Times.” Soon, it laid, the movie industry and the public would witness a more definitive test of whether smell could be practically joined with the sight and sound of moyies. "We use 40 smells in all. They are integrated with the action either for humour or to add romance or suspense.” —News item. I suppose All that’s really necessary now Is to connect or wire Everyone in the Audience, somehow. To the Film, so that not only the Sight, Sound and smell Stimulate the appropriate Sense-organs, but the Taste and Touch as well, Until the most sumptuous Cinema and the crummiest Fleahouse have achieved The Ultimate m Realism, and the Filmgoer is at last relieved Of even the slightest Exertion of his Imagination: He'll be IN the Film, experiencing a full Realisation Of the euphoric Illusion, all five Senses and five Wits Plugged into the Screen, the whole Self, not just a few Bits— He won’t be as at present only partially, but TOTALLY schiz. No more will he be satisfied with mere Listening and Looking As a Means of apprehending what is cooking. He’ll TASTE the Wine of Adventure and the Food of Love, And if some aromatic Lover-boy gives some ill-smelling crook a Shove Off a Cliff-top or Window-ledge, the Filmgoer will FEEL The sickening Sensation as if it were, as it will be, physically real. Of course, in the Case of Smell-o-vision, one supposes We’ll be assailed by only the more pleasing Odours, viz., Roses, Or Sea-breezes, or grilling Steak, or those delicate Smears Of sinfulty expensive Perfume behind Lana Turner’s Ears: Less appealing Smells, viz., exhaust-fumes, dead Whales, wet Paint, Might be too apt to make sensitive Patrons feel faint . . . But can we be sure. Sir, that this Pungency won’t create New Problems for the Censorship? Personally, I hate To think of the Consequences if we tolerated the Effluxion Of just any old Smell without public Warning or Instruction, Such as, (I) “approved for general Inhalation.” and (S) “Recommended as suitable for Smokers”—and of course, lastly, If Hollywood emits Something that smells unusually ghastly, (G) “recommended as suitable only for robust Adults wearing Gas-masks.” . . . Let’s hope the Censor has a Nose we can trust!