IN FILMLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17471, 15 May 1920, Page 3 (Supplement)

IN FILMLAND.

Evidently the censor in Rome means to take no chances. " Madame du Barry." which was to have been exhibited there was prohibited. The picture is based largely on the taking of the Bastille, an i the censor was of the opinion that the scenes of that direful prison would "in cite the proletariat" to revolution. Plans prepared by the Naval Intelligence Department will shortly lie laid before the Board «f Admiralty for the establishment of a cinematographic and photographic branch of the British Navy. It is proposed that this branch shall' be placed on a p.-oper basis, with it« own pay, promotion, and ranks. R is an interesting fact that both Matir ice Maeterlinck and Vincent* Blasco Iba ne;; are great believers in the sterling worth of'the cinema, as demonstrated bv their '.tinted satements. The author of "The Pine Bird" has already viewed his work on the screen; and the Spanish novelist is to see the most celebrated of his stories L" film form. , ' One of the outcomes of a cinema motor organisation instituted by the British fJov frnment to show propaganda pictures to the country folk during the war has resuited in a fleet of motor picture palaces which are shortly to be sent into the country districts for the' entertainment of the large number of rural inhabitants who live out of reach of the town picture pal sees.

The value of California for taking y'idelv different environments without going beyond the State borders is well il] us . trated in a picture "Roads of Destiny." An Alaskan dance hall, a beautiful home on Long lain: 1. and a Mexican ranch are all shown in the picture, and all were filmed i n California. The snowy mountains round Iruckee furnished the setting for the Alaikan 3cene. The desert near Viclorvilla ' was the la kground for the ranch scene, and a palattal heme in Los Angeles was rented for the Lo"g Island episode. The Eastbourne Town Council has been in consultation with the medical office: of the London (bounty Council regarding the injury said to be caused to children by sitting too near the screen at cinenu theatres. It has been found that ill-ef-fects depend upon the position occupied rv'the rbserver in relation to the screen The best position is as nearly as possible ii a lire with the centre of the screen, and ?< far-away from the screen as thrice .'-* fill height. In this position and at such a distance, the picture appears most pat iral The Town Council has appointed a committee to deal with tho question of reserving seats for children at the cinemas, not ton near the screen. Sir Ross Smith has begun his lei hiring lour in Australia, in conjunction with the screen version of his memorable flight, At a private Greening of the complete version of the film in Melbourne Sir Rocs j himself expressed surprise at the wonder-1 ful effect, from the sky that had been caught 'ov the camera. During tho trip, j h p explained, as the result of the str.ii-j of the journey he lost sight of the wonderful scenes through which he was passing) '■it from a spectator's point of view he was now able to appreciate them at thei.'nil vahie. Tie pairt a fine compliment to his brother. Sir Keith, and to Captain Hmlcy. who photographed the flight. cKr Hoes win present the film in conjunction ! with He personally-told story at the Syi-'l ney Town Hall early in June. An American producer's opinion as 'o the effect of the cinema on the legitimate drama in America ought to be consoling to those theatrical managers who foresee poverty and bankruptcy as a result of tho popularity of moving' pictures. He said 'i at American theatres had never experienced such prosperous times as they haJ lone during the last two or three years. ' In my opinion," he said, " it is large'y due to motion pictures. In America, at all events, there are many people who have never witnessed a stage play. They go to the pictures, and by degrees they begin to feel carious to know what the spoken drama is like. In the end they vary their excursions to the pictures with « visit to the theatre." Mcsico Dbah/ticus.