EMPIRE FILMS

Feilding Star, Volume 9, Issue 3676, 21 March 1932, Page 8

EMPIRE FILMS

STRONG INFLUENCE FOR UNITY ADVICE FROM AUSTRALIAN • “The day is coming-,, if it is hot already here', when: British films will mean more to the EiWpire* than the British Navy.” Such is the remarkable appeal to improve British films quoted as having been made to Dr. Thomas Wood, Mus.D., by ah Australian in Derby, West- Australia. In a letter front the steamer Marella, at Singapore, Dr. Wood, who toured Australia last year, adds: “As a result of my wanderings in Australasia during the last two years 1 have seen, cinemas everywhere, and realise' the general neglect of the British and also Empire viewpoint, which is a pity sentimentally and a tragedy politically. The cinema might be a link as strong as the press and as vivid as broadcasting. English filmgoers must mist upon clean humour and (dots suitable to children and adults alike. If we tolerate foeig-n extravagances, proclaiming- whites as merely degenerate half-wits, we shall some day pay a hill on whir there will be no discount. COMMENTS BY TIMES “The Australian’s, dictum might seem extravagant,” say s the London l imes in a leading article, “nevertheless, the cinema is more powerful than any influence except religion, yet Britain, owing to tack of conviction and forethought, has scarcely begun to use.that power, “ft is not Pharasaical to'* believe that British films are slightly superior morally and intellectual!\ to American, despite the Australian’s disturbing ints. Some British films are less wholesome thaii they should be, hlow-ever. ”