Threat to Ban British Films

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 164, 16 July 1935, Page 10

Threat to Ban British Films

PURITY CODE PROBLEMS ARISE IN UNITED STATES

MERLE OBERON’S FROCKS ARI 1 ‘TOO LOW. ”

"There is cleavage in Reel 1. There is cleavage in Reel 4. There is gross cleavage in Reel 8.” Thus sternly Mr Will H. Hays, President of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, recently rebuked a British film director (says the New York correspondent of the Daiiy Mail. He announced that “The Scarlet Pimpernel” was absolutely the last British picture committing the crime of “cleavage” that he would pass for for American audiences. The mystified British director inquired the nature of “cleavage.” He learned that it is a technical term applied to low evening dresses! Merle Oberon’s costumes which thus narrowly escaped the ban, are considered offensive under the new rules dicated by the League of Purity. Presumably ballroom gowns worn in the days of Queen Victoria are equally offensive. Though high in the buck they were low in front and, therefore, are in peril of being forbidden in pictures illustrating the history of the 19th century. But “cleavage” is only one of several breaches of decorum that foreign producers, ignorant of the subtie intricacies of the new code, may commit. Recently British directors have in nocently sought to export to the Unit cd Slates phrases which lo English audiences arc merely amusing or witty but which have a tinge of impropriety for America audiences. They are also held to have transgressed what Mr Hays describes as ‘‘moral end values.” “Nell Gwynn” was on of the pictures whose presentation in America was delayed for many months on this account. The question was raised: ‘‘Does not King Charles's death-bed request, ’Take care of poor .Nell’ have a fnr from “moral end vahiie’?” Nell Gwynn, it is understood, is now being revised in one or two aspects lo meet Ihe re ipiirenienls of the \nieric:in moral con Mr Hays sinreiilv and \oi i lerousiy protests that the new rules are not being used to dix-ri minute against British pictuivs. The suspicion that discrimination is being exercised arose from the accidental fact that “The Affairs of Cellini’’ ami “Scarlet Empress” were passed at the very time when objections were being offered to “Neil Gwynn.” These pictures, it is explained, were made before the advent of the new rules. "What do you think of my engagement ring?'’ “Lovely. darlinp. When doe-' uouic off 7 "