FRENCH FILM CANNOT BE SHOWN

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17854, 24 May 1926, Page 2

FRENCH FILM CANNOT BE SHOWN

OBJECTIONS RAISED TO CENSOR’S DECISION. LONDON. March 12. .V peculiar position has arisen in regard to the exhibition of a new French film. “ Bon Jour. Paris," consisting of scenes from the French revue of the same name, at the Capitol Theatre, Haytnarket, next week. Although the film, which is handcoloured, had originally been granted a certificate by the British Board of Film Censors, the management of the Capitol Theatre have received a notification from the Clerk to the London County Council that as the board's certificate “ has not yet been issued . . . the film must not be exhibited at premises licensed bj* the council for kinematograph exhibitions.” The letter also stated that the council has received a complaint as to the nature of certain of the photographs exhibited outside the theatre to advertise the film. The letter says:— The photographs in question have been inspected on behalf of the council, and I am directed to state that, in the opinion of the council, they are objectionable on the ground of being contrary to public decency, and should not be exhibited. I am, therefore, to ask that they may at once be removed, and that you will forward an explanation to the council of vour reasons for ex i libi j£ ne the photographs." bir \Y Alter Gibbons, a director of the UApitol Theatre, said yesterday:— , ith regard to the certificate, I understand that the L.C.C. have con> mumcated with the censor, as a re-

suit of which a second examination of the films has been considered necessary. But I have received no official communication to this effect, and unless the censor’s certificate is revoked between now and Monday the film will be shown. "As regards the photographs. I am replying to the London County Council that, in my opinion, there is nothing objectionable in them, and that unless the request for their removal comes as an official communication from the whole counci] I shall not have any of them removed. “The whole affair seems to me as if the London County Council are attempting to gain control of the censorship. I, for one. refuse to deal with anyone but the official film censor.”