BRITISH FILMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 May 1931, Page 7

BRITISH FILMS

AND AUShIALIAN CENSORS. LONDON, April 25. "Either Britons are most depraved or Australians are enveloped in an odour of sanctity,” declared an official of British International Films, re garding the banning by the Commonwealth of “Cape Forlorn.” the Frank Harvey talkie. Tho company has decided to send the film on to New Zealand where the executive is confident that it will not be banned. The Australian censors, headed by Mr Creswell O’Reilly, it was stated, had banned more of the company’s pictures than all the censors throughout the world. “Thu Australian Prime Minister, Mr Scullin, asked us to improve the tone of British' films, a suggestion' with which we heartily agree.” the official added. “But we cannot understand how a film that is acceptable to Britain and other countries is unfit for Australians. Perhaps the censor is too siima.mish. but if he dictates what, the public should see the Press should be permitted to attend private screenings t<> satisfy the public that 1Iu j decisions arc justifiable. An executive, of British Gaumont Films declared that the Australian censorship is only less strict than the Irish, which is the laughing stock of the world. ’■