THE TRUE ART OF CRITICISM

Otago Witness, Issue 3915, 26 March 1929, Page 11

THE TRUE ART OF CRITICISM

FILM CRITICISM COMPETITION.

MISS SCANLAN WINS £2OO. (From Oue Own Copbespondent.)

LONDON, February 5. A few weeks ago the Daily Express offered £5OO in prizes for criticism of films. Entrants could go to any kincma and give their views on any film. Naturally, many thousands of people sent in their attempts. Last week the final s<from each of the three districts where the Daily Exnress is published—London. Manchester, Glasgow—were submitted -,<> the managing editor. The first prize. £2OO, was" awarded to Miss N. M. Scanlan, of Wellington. Miss Scanlan saw “The Garden of Allah ” at the Hampstead Picture Playhouse, and her terse impression read:— “ Hard sunlight on white mosques, velvet shadows, supercilious camels, picturesque dirt, ’the desert. Ivan Petrovitch, handsome and provocative; Alice Terry a saccharine mask. A warm, wild romance of the East that made London couples snuggle closer. Magnificently improbable.” WHY MISS SCANLAN WON. The managing editor wrote: — The phrase “ The editor's decision is final ” is familiar to all those who woo the goddess of fortune, but it is no easy matter sometimes to come to that final decision. It is especially difficult when standards of criticism are the criterion—as in the case of the present competition. The temptation to accord too much value to wit and not enough to judgment is almost irresistible, and it would seem that there are thousands of caustic wits among the kinema-patron readers of the Daily Ex press.

“ When my colleagues brought me the final 50 from each of the three districts where the Daily Express is published I frankly hoped to find the winner among the Scots. I thought it would be a pleasant thing all round if our recent invasion of Scotland produced the best amateur film critic in Great Britain. “ But it was not to be. There were some brilliant efforts from Glasgow. Edinburgh, and Aberdeen, but I felt along with the other judges, that Miss N. M. Scanlan, of Hampstead, just managed to be in front when the race was over.

“ I think Miss Scanlan was fortunate in her choice of a film. ‘ The Garden of Allah ’ gave her a chance to use vivid language in a perfectly legitimate manner. Her opening sentence, ‘ Hard sunlight on white mosques,’ conveys ■ definite effect to me. ‘ Supercilious camels ’ is a happy touch, and she shows a wise restraint in leaving the desert without any qualifying adjective. “ Miss Scanlan also gives me an idea of the actors and the acting, as well as th' effect of the whole on the audience. Having covered these points. she sums up in two words, “ Magnificently improbable.’ “ The winner of the competition ha c thus fulfilled the true art of criticism, which is to entertain, to inform, and to pass judgment.”

Congratulations poured in upon the New Zealand lady as soon as the result was made known.