AMERICAN NOVEL
FILM VERSION BANNED PROTEST BY THE AUTHOR (Received February 10, 6.35 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 The American novelist, Mr. Sinclair Lewis, who won the Nobel prize for literature in 19.30, stated to-da.v that the production of a motion picture version of his latest novel, " It Can't Happen Here," dealing with the rise of mythical Fascist Power in America, has been banned by direct order of Mr. Will Hays, director of the policy of the motion picture industry.
A large producing company had been prepared to start filming when Mr. Hays issued an order banning it. He based his reasons on " fear of international politics and fear of boycotts abroad."
In answering this Mr. Lewis said that while his work was a propaganda book it was propaganda for only one tiling—American democracy. He characterised Mr. Hays' action as "a fantastic exhibition of folly and cowardice."
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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22345, 17 February 1936, Page 9
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146AMERICAN NOVEL New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22345, 17 February 1936, Page 9
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