The Dominion SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1928. FILMS AND INTERNATIONAL AMENITIES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 114, 11 February 1928, Page 8

The Dominion SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1928. FILMS AND INTERNATIONAL AMENITIES

Strong exception, it is cabled, has been taken by Geiman official and Press opinion to the exhibition of a British film entitled Dawn, in which is retold the story of the execution by the Germans during the war of Nurse Edith Cavell. In the film story Miss Sybil Thorndyke, a famous English actress, takes the role of the Nurse. . The German objections to the film are chiefly two —first, that the incidents of the execution are not in accord with the official Qerman record of the facts; secondly, to quote the German Foreign Office, “such a film only revives painful memories, and may embitter the relations between the two countries.”

The latter objection is entitled to more serious consideration than that which deals with the question of fact. British sentiment has elevated Edith Cavell to a high place amongst the nation’s heroes and heroines, and rightly so. She risked her life, and lost it, m the nation’s ’cause. It was a heroic sacrifice, rendered under circumstances which thrilled the nation, and at the same time shocked the finer feelings of humanity. From the German point of view, the execution was defended as an exemplary penalty exacted for a breach of the rules of war, as enforced during the regime of General von Bissing during the occupation of Belgium. From such widely differing points of view it would be as hopeless to expect any knid of agreement between the two countries regarding the facts and justification of this particular event as it would be for them to agree about the general question of war guilt. We are told that the producers of the film propose to exhibit it in Brussels and Berlin. One would be inclined to think it extremely unlikely that the exhibition of such a film anywhere in Germany would be permitted. What the German authorities probably have in mind is the possibility of the film receiving world-wide publicity. Setting aside all disputed questions of fact, the point to be considered is the effect upon public sentiment throughout the world of a poignant film story, impressively portrayed, as to its principal character, by an actress of acknowledged histrionic power, and its possible reaction upon international sentiment. Of a very different character is the German film, recently produced, and to which no exception has been taken by British opinion, telling the story of the exploits of the Emden. This famous German sea-raider did considerable damage to us during her sensational careei, but that was part of the game. What evoked British admiration was not only the daring and resource of her commander, but his chivalrous consideration for his prisoners. That these qualities were displayed by a German made no difference to us. He played the game. The reaction from the exhibition of a film of this kind would be altogether different from the other. While one revives our feelings of respect for a chivalrous foe, the other comes as a reminder to sensitive people, not only in British communities, but elsewhere, of the public execration directed upon the Germans for a reprisal which deeply shocked civilisation by its unnecessary and almost inhuman severity. One is reminded at this point of an incident which produced a tremendous effect upon American sentiment after the close of the Civil War between North and South. The intensity of public feeling did not subside immediately peace was declared. It persisted long after. But the appeal to forgive and forget received a striking impulse from the publication of a poem entitled “The Blue and the Grey,” in which was told the story of a widow who visited a war cemetery and laid flowers on the graves of friend and foe alike. If we are really sincere about our desire for the promotion of international good-will, and the achievement of peaceful means of settling our various disputes, then it is clear that the responsibilities of the task must be realised and accepted by the peoples as well as the statesmen of the nations of the world.

The effect of any kind of publicity, whether it be spoken, printed, or played on stage or screen, on the high end in view ought to be measured, and our utterances and gestures adapted to that end. The permeative character of the film renders it highly necessary that those concerned with the production of screen plays should understand and appreciate the relationship and possible effect of their activities upon the larger issue of international friendships. Our own Indian Administration, for instance, has been very seriously concerned about the effect upon the native mind of American film plays depicting certain aspects of Western social degeneracy, and its possible reaction upon British prestige. The habit of thinking of the other fellow’s point of view, and his feelings, is not easy for the individual to acquire, and it is very much more difficult to engrain it in ,the national outlook of a people. Yet it must be cultivated, seriously and deliberately, if the efforts of our statesmen at Geneva and elsewhere to spare posterity a recurrence of the horrors from which the present generation is slowly and painfully recovering, are to be successful. In this connection the power of the film to do infinite harm, as well as infinite good, is by no means the least of our anxieties and problems. The Cavell film apparently has raised a question of some difficulty and delicacy, which, from its important influence upon the international amenities, was bound, sooner or later, to come up for discussion.