FEW BLACK SHEEP

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 124, 28 May 1928, Page 10

FEW BLACK SHEEP

PLANS TO BAR THEM AUSTRALIA'S FILM CENSOR BOARD, NOT MINISTER Your Commissioners realise the heavy responsibility that a Censor carries. He is able, by his judgment, to assist materially in the moulding of the character of a nation, to direct to a degree the occupational proclivities of the people, and to further the cultural development of the State. The popularity of the cinema with children and the inlluenco of the film upon the dci velopment of the child-mind, add an additional burden to the Censor's public responsibility. / ; These words are taken from the report of the Australian Royal Commission on the moving picture industry. Under the existing law in Australia the Censor will refuuSe an application for registration, of a film if it (a) is blasphemous, indecent, or obscene; (b) is likely to be injurious to morality, or to encourage or incite to crime; (c) is likely to be offensive to the people of any friendly nation; (d) is likely to be offensive to the people of the British Empire; (c) depicts any matter the exhibition of which is undesirable in the public interest. The importer of a film may appeal to the Chief Censor against the decision of the Censor, and there is a further right of appeal to the Minister of Trade and Customs. WOMAN TO THE EESCUE. The Koyal Commission recommends an alteration of the censorship machinery by the constitution of boards, and by eliminating a Minister asvultimatq appeal, the Commission holding that Cabinet Ministers change, and that a Minister is not the best man in any case. The Commission recommends: (1) That a board of film censors be established, consisting of three persons, one of whom shall be a woman. (2) That each member of the censorship board view films independently, and. that when in doubt the particular film be referred to the full board for inspection.* (3) That the remuneration to be paid to members of the censorship board be such as will adequately cover the heavy responsibility which they will be called upon to bear. (4) That the members of the censorship board accept full responsibility for the censorship of all films. (5) That the Censorship Board be invested with power to deal with the importation, production, exhibition, and exportation of all motion picture films, and also all illustrated and advertising matter made without and within Australia which is to be used in connection with motion picture films. , (6) That more commodious accommodation be provided for the censorship office in Sydney, including at least three projection rooms and a room suitably fitted for the viewing of posters and advertising matter. ■ (7) That a censorship' board of appeal be created, consisting of fivo. members, one of whom shall be a woman; three to form a quorum. (S)_T_l>a't, as it is 'desirable that changing and progressive opinion be adequately represented on the appeal board, the chairman shall bo appointed for five years, and the other members for a period not exceeding three years. INDUSTRY NOT TO SIT ON APPEAL BOARD. (9) That the motion picture industry shall not.havo representation on the appeal board. - (10) That the appeal board be constituted—(a) to decide appeals made by importers, distributors, .or producers against rejections or cuts made by the censorship; (b) to deal with requests for' reviews from State Ministers; (c) to grant relief from quota requirements; (d) to make recommendations for awards of merit in connection with Australian film productions and scenarios; (c) to carry out such other duties as may be prescribed. (11) That the country of origin shall bo marked and exhibited on all films. (12) That any distributing firm which during the course of one year has 25 per cent, of its importations banned, shall be warned for the first offence, and for any subsequent offence may have its registration cancelled for such period as may be determined. A strong advocacy was made of preconsorship, or the right of film importers to censor their films before their films are submitted to the censor. On. this the Commission reports: "Importers claim that generally they have ho choice of selection in the films exported to them from America. It is not surprising therefore that these films frequently contain features' objectionable to Australian standards.' These importers consider that by exercising precensorship they can adapt the films, to Australian' conditions and save a considerable amount of the censor's time. Pro-censorship was in existence at the time Professor Wallace was appointed chief censor, but it was found that not much use was made by importers of the right of pro-censorship to improve their films. Further, "the private screening was on many occasions made a trade show. The censor did not.see the original picture, but only the film after eliminations had been. ' nmde. 'It frequently happened that for destruction of the continuity of a film was. directed at the censor, although the elimination had boeii done by the importer under his privilege of prccensorship. Pre-consorship, is open to abuse and trouble, and it is not thought advisable to restore the privilege." NOT WINKING, BUT BLINKING. Both the virtues and the foulings of the present censorship are plainly pointed out by tlio Royal Commission, which finds that the Censor has been asked to see too many pictures in a given" time. "The performance by one Censor of an inspection of some fourteen feature films weekly imposes upon him a task which should be lightened. It is conceivable that the sense of judgment of a Censor must, after a concentrated and exhausting period of film inspection, become less keen, and at such a time questionable or undesirable features in a picture may pass unnoticed. This is one of the, reasons which your Commissioners advance for the release of a few films containing scenes or incidents which might well have been excised. . . The standard set up by the Australian censorship is considered a fair one, having regard to the relative dramatic and moral ideals of our community." CAN ART REDEEM VICE? The Commission hopes that its recommendations will prevent such "leakages" of objectionable things as have occurred: The number of films of a doubtful nature passed by the Censor, though few in comparison, with the total, number registered, yet in themselves are not an inconsiderable quantity, and in their influence upon the community generally may have a distinctly demoralising effect. Their right to bo screened appears to bo based by the Censor upon the ground.that, although such films may contain certain doubtful scenes or features, yet they are at tho same time of a'highly dramatic and artistic nature. With this particular phase of the censorship your Commissioners are not in accord,' for while no doubt tho suggested grading or marking of films will to a certain extent meet, the case, yet

it is considered that films of this description, which undoubtedly pander to a lower moral sense, are better out of tho Commonwealth than within it, particularly if they have to be so materially censored and cut as to make the story obviously disjointed. . . . Considering the large number of films screened yearly in Australia, the instances to which objections of weak censorship could bo made aro comparatively few, and it is generally conceded by the peoplo engaged in the industry and the public that the Commonwealth censorship has been reasonably and creditably performed. The recommendations regarding the censorship which are niade in this report will, it is considered, be conducive to greater efficiency and will "reduce to a negligible degree the possibility of such 'leakages' occurring."