POPULAR TASTE IN CINEMA PICTURES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20096, 1 May 1935, Page 11

POPULAR TASTE IN CINEMA PICTURES

To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald ” Sir,—l have read with interest the letters of “Stay at Home” and “Koko” on the subject of morality of pictures, but cannot say I agree with the latter that the pictures shown here are a matter of popular taste. In conversation with a gentleman interested in the picture business, he assured me that it was largely a matter of expense as the good films were very expensive to purchase. There will undoubtedly always be a section of the public preferring the lighter, or we may say, the lower standard of picture, but I have noticed when a good picture is. filmed there is always a crowded house. The same applies in other centres. Like “Stay at Home” and “Koko” I have often been very disappointed that there was not a picture at any of the houses worth troubling about. Why not divide these films into three sections: show the really good one's at the Majestic, the medium ones at the Regent, the blood and thunder thrills at the Royal. Patrons would then know just where to go and what to expect. I would not mind laying a bet the Majestic would win every time. I have not such a poor opinion of the popular taste generally as “Koko,” still it would be worth a trial.—l am, etc., PICTURE LOVER. Timaru, April 29.