“THE DAWN.”

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1928, Page 2

“THE DAWN.”

WHY IT WAS BANNED. 'Australian A N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON. Fell. 22. The producer has decided to show the Edith Cavoll film at the Alliert Hall to a representative audience, including Commoners. Mr T. ]’. O’Connor, interviewed by the producer, said, “The Board of Control is hound to consider the opinion of statesmen of Europe, thereby we are directly trying to bring about a pacification of Europe. It is the theme, not the treatment of ‘Dawn’ the Board regards as objectionable. We believe I lie Home Office is as opposed to it as the Foreign Office. We ourselves reel the Board was bound to Dike tin' action it. did. The decision is' final and binding, and will he almost, universally accepted by licensing authorities.” The ‘‘Evening Standard” says it is the settled policy of tiermnny. by direct and indirect diplomatic pressure, to secure the suppression ol films «f----fensive to national susceptibilities. In addition to “Dawn.” the producers have withdrawn “Mare Nostrum. ’ an indictment of V boat warfare, and it is expected that “The Four Horsemen” will also lie suppressed. Air Bernard Shaw, after seeing the Nurse Caveil film. “Dawn." states that it is irresistible. “The only question to lie considered is whether it is worthy as a work of art. “Take my word,” lie says, “there is a moving and impressive reincarnation ol the heroine liv our greatest tragic actress (Miss Sybil Tliorndyke), whose dignity keeps the whole story on the highest plane. The producer has not betrayed a single stroke of bitterness or rancour, and the til in can he shown ill Germany without provoking a single Herman to tell us that people living m glass houses ought not to throw stones, j hope ‘Dawn’ will take its lesson to the t'lids of the cartb. MORE COMMENTS. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m). LONDON. Feh. 23. The withdrawal of the film “Marc Nostrum” also in deference to German opinion, has addd fresh fuel to the

“i .. fire over “Dawn” controversy, furthermore it recalled a number of scenes in the film “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” deleted when first shown in America, following representations by the German Consul-General at Washington. The “DaMv Mail’’ describes this as knuckling under to Germany, and pertinently asks why the Board of Censors have just passed a German film of the world war through German spectacles, featuring Big Bertha shelling Paris. It says Rif A. Chamberla in has placed the Government in an untenable position over “Dawn.”