GERMAN PICTURE PALACES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16036, 29 January 1920, Page 5

GERMAN PICTURE PALACES.

FLOODED WITH OBSCENITIES

GOVERNMENT TO TAKE FIRM

STAND. Australian and N. 7.. Cable Association. Received Jauna.-v 29. 10.20 a.m. *Ni)ON. January 27. The Daily <.T.rvuicit.-N Berlin correspondent states chat on- of the earliestGovernment measures after the revolution was the abolition of the censorship. It had unfortunate results in the cinema world owing to the extraordinary vogue of so-called Aufklarungs films-, of which the ostensible purpose was to warn the German youth against erotic tendencies. ►Since the removal of the censorship the picture palaces have been flooded with masked obscenities, which the newspapers describe as a sea of mud. Public agitation is so great that i movement against the whole film industry is threatened, and the Government is introducing universal cinema censorship, enabling the authorities to refuse to license any film calculated to excite base instincts. The judges will include as officials leading artists, writers, and also men and women of experience in training the young. The cinema manufacturers say that the Bill will kill the industry, and are thoroughly organised for a' fight. The biggest combination, known as the T.F.A. Company, has a capital of six-ty million marks, and owns seven factories and fifty picture palaces.