BRINGING NATIONS TOGETHER BY FILMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17865, 5 June 1926, Page 2

BRINGING NATIONS TOGETHER BY FILMS.

To the Editor. Sir.—On perusing my evening paper, I was greatly surprised to read an editorial on “Bringing the Nations Together” per medium of the film. I would point out that Dr S. S. Argyle’s speech in favour of the legislation to compel the picture exhibitors to screen one thousand feet of film made within the British Empire is in itself ridiculous. It will only mean that the American film exchanges will have to purchase a thousand foot gazette and what good, may I ask, would the purchase of such a gazette be to Great Britain. Dr Argyle is indeed very mild in his attack, compared with many other legislators in Australia. Why, even the Queensland Labour Government has promised that the condition will be laid down that all picture theatre licenses will be granted conditionally that the exhibitors screen twenty-five per cent, of film made within the British Empire, and as soon as sufficient film is available this piece of legislation will become law. I would also draw, your attention to Mr Woodrow Wilson’s famous speech before the film producers of America, wherein he said: “Give us another four years of uninterrupted propaganda through the medium of the film and we will Americanise the English speaking world.” Yes, Mr Editor, that’s fact, not fiction, and as for America working in with England in the picture game, as the Yanks would say “Apple Sauce.” One has only to visit America to see the opinion the American has of the Englishman. There’s not a picture produced, not a play staged, in which an English type is called for that they don’t make him as objectionable as possible. Take the well known play .“Within the Law”; the informer and waster is an Englishman. When it comes to pictures I could name dozens where the Englishman is held up to ridicule. If any picture calls for a butler, he is an Englishman. Then again those terrible war pictures turned out in America by the mile. I have yet to see one that does not fairly yell at you: “America won the war.” Why, it was only recently that we read in the cables, the comment in the House of Commons regarding the American picture, “The Grand Parade.” I understand that by viewing this picture one gets the impression that the war had not really started until America came into the field. Then again, take the picture, “Civilisation.” The British were pictured as cutthroats and usurpers. If that means bringing the nations together and creating the spirit of goodwill, I would not like to view their propaganda pictures if they were reallj' hostile. As for the censorship in New Zealand being, very strict, let me tell you, Mr Editor, that pictures have passed the New Zealand censor which were banned altogether by the Australian Censorship Office. —I i am, etc., BRITISHER-