CONTROVERSY OVER EDITH CAVELL FILM GOES ON UNABATED

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6545, 29 February 1928, Page 8

CONTROVERSY OVER EDITH CAVELL FILM GOES ON UNABATED

No Request to Refer Matter to Dominions SECRETARY’S STATEMENT IN COMMONS > (A.P.A. and “ Sum”) LONDON, Fob. 27. In the House of Commons, Mr. L. C Amery, in reply to questions, paid that lie bad not received any request to,; communicate with the Dominion Governments on the subject of the exhibition of the film “Dawn” The' German Government had made no representations to the Colonial Office on the subject. Sir Austen Chamberlain stated that ■ the German Embassy on October 20, 1927, drew the attention of the Foreign Office to the film “Dawn” and was informed that the Government had no powers of political censorship. The Goman Ambassador on January 24 spoke to him on the subject and as . ho personally felt strongly on the sub- . jeet ho interviewed Mr. T, P. O’Connor and begged him particularly to give attention to the character of the film, when it was submitted to the Board of 'Censors. • Has Not Seen Film. ■ Mr. H. F, C. Crookshank asked: .“Have the members of the German Embassy, the Government's film censor or any member of the Government, jseen the film ?” Sir Austen Chamberlain replied: “ I have not seen it, and for reasons already explained I do not propose to see it in any .circumstances.” Sir Austen Chamberlain continued, stating that the Government's adviser 'on'November 3, 1927/ told him that - Mr. Wilcox, the producer, thus described the shooting scene—- “ One of the firing party definitely refuses to level his rifle at Nurse Cavell and is 'shot on the spot. The rest line up and on the order to fire, raise their rifles in order to fire above her head. She falls to the ground : fainting, and an officer steps forward and despatches her. ” “ I believe that this is an entirely credible version of the event,'' stated Sir Austen. Outrage On Memory. Sir Austen Chamberlain added: " I ‘feel that if is an outrage on a noble woman’s memory.” V •. Commander Kenworthy asked why was no objection taken during the preparation of the film. Sir Austen Chamberlain replied: “ I have other things to attend to than the study of the forthcoming films and newspapers! and, therefore, T acted on Mr. Wilcox’s description of the film to the adviser. ’' Sir Austen Chamberlain said that it •was not true that nobody in authority had seen the film. The Government’s adviser saw the film and discussed it with Mr. Wilcox. Sir Austen Chamberlain told a questioner that exhibition of the German film, “ The World Through German Spectacles,” was prohibited in occupied territories by the Rhineland High Commissioner.

Certain Facts Denied. Mr. Wilcox, replying to Sir Austen Chamberlain, denies supplying the Government film adviser with the details described. , “ They do not form part of the film and were never taken,” Mr. Wilcox states. . Mr. Wilcox met the advisor only once, when the latter unofficially visited the s'.udio without reference to ..the film “ Dawn ” and saw certain scenes. Actually the firing party scene runs--. “On the command to tho firing’ party to get ready the refusal to shoot by. a squad member is played to where an officer steps forward. The actual shooting is not shown. It is merely reflected in the expression of Nurse Cavcli, who faints. The firing party is brought back to order. “ As the officer moves from the side of the firing party the scene is transferred to a Lutheran chaplain’s face, his expression indicating what occurs. Thereafter the sccno dissolves to a line from It up or t Brookes’ poem—“ in some corner of a foreign field, etc.,” which dissolves to Nurse Cavoll’s grave. Tho firing party does not fire over her head. An officer does not give the coup do grace. .The actual shooting is not shown. It is utterly untrue to say that the adviser or any official has scon the film, though the advisor asked by telephone this afternoon if ho might. “1 am showing ‘ Dawn ’ privately in Berlin next week.”