THE PUTARURU PRESS. THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1927. BRITISH FILMS.

Putaruru Press, Volume V, Issue 177, 24 March 1927, Page 4

THE PUTARURU PRESS.

THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1927. BRITISH FILMS.

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THE opposition by the British Labour Tarty to the proposed compulsory quota of British films in every programme in England is being loudly applauded by parties whose interests undoubtedly lie in the opposite direction. Unfortunately I this opposition is being favourably | commented on by New Zealand journals which are above suspicion in regard to financial bias. The line taken j is that, ti:,ere being no guarantee of excellence in regard to British production, the quota system cannot be justly defended. On the face of it this may appear to be a sound and legitimate argument, but unfortunately there is a type of mind very much in evidence since the war which sees little good in its own country and is for ever praising the foreigner. Applying their argument to the other side, can it be justly said that there is always a degree of excellence in regard to American films? Would the worst British films be of a lower standard than the worst American ? Even if they were, they would at least portray the Britisher as he is, and not present the dreadful caricature which Empire audiences have at times to suffer. Before the war British producers made some 25 per cent, of the films shown. While the Empire was engaged in a death struggle America built up her wonderful industry, which she has now protected abroad by means of “ blind ” and “ block ” booking. The question at isue therefore appears to us to be the breaking of this pernicious system of booking foreign films by legal enactment of the compulsory quota. This we would defend as the best possible countermove to assist the British industry, handicapped as it is by climatic conditions, to regain its feet. In regard to the quality of such films, we have sufficient faith in our countrymen, more especially in view of the fine pictures already produced, to rely on them to produce a picture which would compare more than favourably in regard to artistic production and moral tone with the imported article. Thomas Alva. Edison has said that “ whoever controls the motion picture industry controls the most powerful medium of influence over the people,” and with this dictum we think most people will agree. This being so, some protection to an industry which can assist in this direction should be freely given.