ANOTHER BRITISH PICTURE BANNED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 14 June 1930, Page 9

ANOTHER BRITISH PICTURE BANNED

ACTION OF AUSTRALIAN CENSOR MERITS OF “WHITE CARGO” A British-made talking film, “White Cargo,” which reproduce? practically word for word the dialogue of the stage plav uow being staged at the Criterion Theatre, with Mr Leon Gordon in the principal role, has been banned by the chief censor (Mr W. Cresswell O’Reilly), reports an Australian exchange. Mr Jack Musgrove, who, with others, was responsible for bringing the film to Australia, said that he wished to make a vigorous protest. To this end, he had sent a letter to the chief censor asking why American films like “Shanghai Lady” should be allowed to pass while this British film was . stopped. He had seen in an American production only last Saturday an incident which fairly staggered him by its vulgarity. “Is it to be understood,” Mr Musgrove’s letter went on, “that there is one censorship for British pictures and one for the American ? Surely' we are not going to give the Americans the monopoly in indecency, and restrict the British film manufacturers to Sunday school stories? . ‘Whits. Cargo’ is a slice of real'lifeFlt deals with people much more real 1 than the back-stage and cabaret folk depicted in so many American films, and, I submit, should have been treated in a more generous and reasonable spirit by the censon” Mr Musgrove has appealed against the decision. On the subject being referred to Mr O’Reilly, the chief censor said that he had dealt with the film entirely on its merits. His reason for suppressing the film while the stage play went on with impunity had been based on the different character of the audiences which at-

tended picture shows and “legitimate” theatres. People who went to the theatre almost always selected a particular play; but a great many people walked into a picture theatre without knowing what films were on the programme. Moreover, few children would sec.the stage version of “White Cargo”; whereas the audiences looking at the film would include many thousands of children.