FILM CENSORS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 72, 18 December 1928, Page 15 (Supplement)

FILM CENSORS

The new and swift development of the kinema has given rise to much criticism regarding its artistic value. Some critics, more generous than others, prophesy better results for the future; they do not condemn it because of early crude efforts. Much of its artistry depends upon the imagination of those who make the pictures, for the camera relies not only upon what is written for its story, but uses the material as a foundation for wider results. The main objections, it would seem, are to its dissemination among all peoples and all classes of shoddy thought and artificial codes. A critic in the “Manchester Guardian” says: “Its heroes and heroines are, with the most moral intentions, snobs and cads; its standards of honour are requisite but false. Ugliness riots everywhere —in motive, manner, appearance, and dress. The whole atmosphere is vulgar—not in the rough, admirable, honest way of the common people, but vulgarly refined, vulgarly spectacular, vulgarly aristocratic — aping beauty and degrading it.” This may be an exaggeration, but it is obvious that there is much room for reform in censorship. National censorships have been established in Sweden (1911), Spain (1912), Italy (1913), and France (1916). The National Board of Censorship, which claims to be a disinterested civic organisation, representative of the churches and practically all welfare and philanthropic societies, exercises a voluntary censorship of American films. The Federal Government of Germany has appointed an official as chairman of a Board of Censors, with one member appointed by the film industry, one by representatives of art and literature, and two by welfare and educational authorities. The British Board of Film Censors is a trade body established, with the approval of the Home Secretary, by the Kinematograph Exhibitors’ Association. Public authorities in England are very efficient in their supervision of places of public amusement. The Public Entertainments Committee of Birmingham, for example, appointed in 1916 three women visitors whose duty it is- to pay frequent visits to the kinema theatres and report upon conditions found there. Biblical stories as material for films have been used a great deal recently, and resultant pictures have met with some opposition. It is not likely that picture-producers are going to consider the hurt feelings of religious people when the public flock the theatres, proving the popularity of such films. Biblical stories depicted with reverence and true to facts might be of great service to religion, but falsely produced they may become a serious hindrance.

If Fortune with a smiling face Strew roses in our way, ’When shall we stoop to pick them up? To-day, my friend, to-day. But should she frown with face of care, And talk of coming sorrow, When shall we grieve, if grieve we dare? To-morrow, friend, to-morrow. • * *

“I love the man who shuns to do An action mean or low; Who will a nobler course pursue To stranger, friend, or foe; Who seeks for justice, not for gain, Is merciful and kind, Who will not cause a needless pain In body or in mind.” * ♦ ♦ “Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple unto thy soul with hoops of steel; But do not dull thy palm with entertainment Of each new hatched, unfledged comrade.”

Willie: Pa, what’s a parasite? Father: A parasite, son, is a man who walks through a revolving door without doing his share of the pushing.

We hope Heaven is the place “Where human power and failure Are equalised forever. And the great light that halves all Is the passionate bright endeavour.”

When thou last thanked thy God for every blessing sent, What time will then remain for murmur or lament? * * *

He who blesses most is blest, And God and man shall own his work, Who toils to leave as his bequest An added beauty to the earth.” —Whlbtier.

Break not from off thy life a piece for Heaven, Or large or small; But pour the soul of service in for; leaven, And raise it all. —Frederick Langridge. » » *

He (reading report of a fire) : One poor woman had to escape down a' water-pipe at the rear of the building, and . She: Oh, how gloriously, slim she must have been! I wonder; what her diet was.