BIG PICTURE COMPANY OBJECTS TO CRITIC REVIEWING ITS FILMS

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 October 1946, Page 5

BIG PICTURE COMPANY OBJECTS TO CRITIC REVIEWING ITS FILMS

Reed. 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 4. The Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer Film Comany decided to refuse admission to previews of their films to Miss E. Arnot Robertson, 8.8. C., film critic, who, during the war, produced films showing the work ot New Zealand airmen, including “Maximum Effort.” She also edited a lilm on New Zealand for the series “Know The Commonwealth.”

The film company complains Robertson’s criticisms “unnecessarily harmful.” In a letter to the 8.8. C. Director of Talks, they stated that they considered Miss Robertson out of touch with the tastes and entertainment requirements of the picture-going public. They asked the 8.8. C. to co-operate in restraining her from reviewing their films in broadcasts.

Miss Robertson declared: “I could not care less personally. It will save me from seeing some of the silliest American films, but 1 do feel this is the thin end of a very dangerous wedge—the flagrant commercial effort to stifle free, unbiased criticism. Its box office consideration attempting to interfere with the freedom of speech and opinion.”

Miss Roberson, who often broadcast in the “Brains Trust,” is the wile of Mr. H. E. Turner, secretary of the Empire Press Union. She has always been forthright in her comments.