A Banned Picture

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 256, 25 July 1930, Page 15

A Banned Picture

Sir,—I hesitate to reopen the controversy re “All Quiet on the Western Front,” but I wish to protest against the banning of the film version of that work. What is the standard of judgment used by the cepsor and the Appeal Board? Mr. Tanner has made some mention of an entertainment that will be of some benefit to th* people of New Zealand; but surely lie cannot place under even that elastic generic description the Broadway nights, babies, melodies, diggers, etc., with their sometimes sordid back-stage stories, their frequent lewd allusions, their ballets of less than half-dressed girls, and their atrocious English. . And now, between them, they have banned a picture about which there is at 'least a controversy. It has been shown in England, America, and Australia, and genuine critics have hailed it as a work of art: something which can never be said of even the best musical comedy. At least it is due to the public of New Zealand that the censors should state their norm of judgment, and let us make our own decision as to whether they are always consistent.—I am. etc., J.R.G. Petone, July 12.