FILMS AND THE CENSOR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 401, 9 December 1932, Page 4

FILMS AND THE CENSOR

As with matters political and matrimonial^ there will always be differenees of opinion as to what constitutes a good film and what does not. Said Pope: "Tis with our judgments as our watclies; none go just alike, yet each believes his own." With vivid, sometimes rather uncomfortably vivid, memories of what has been inflicted upon us, sympathy should be extended to that unfortunate person the Government Censor, who to-day acts in something the same role as the "tasters" who sat at the table of the Borgias — a species of insurance against mental indigestion or worse. The very fact that the Government Censor sees all pictures before they are released, entitles him to sympathy and should' undoubtedly excuse a little irascibility upon his part Even a censor must at times express his emotions. It is an axiom in newspaper work that the sub-editor is everybody's enemy and wields his blue pencil against a hostile world. The film censor is in exactly the same position ; he is faced on one hand with the righteous wrath of the film producers when he uses the scissors upon their releases and upon the other with the equally righteous wrath of a critical publie. But in justice both to the censor and the film producers, it must be admitted that a great deal that was harmful and unnecessarv has been eliminated in the films shown in this country. Questionable films, like questionable books, are after all, largely a matter of the interpretation placed upon them by their publie. It is a debatable point whether books and films, or in fact anything of this description, are not created because the publie demands them and whether in that case, it is not the publie which is primarily responsible. A great deal has been said and written about the deterioration of the press and its growing appeal to sensationalisny but here again it may be argued that the people are given the newspapers which they deserve. A normally healthy mind will not be infected by doubtful films or doubtful literature, but on the other hand, there is a section of the publie which in these matters must he protected from itself. An even more important aspect of the question is the effect of perversive matter upon youth while it is still forming its standards. It is. as a safeguard for youth and that section of the publie which is likely to be infected by doubtful films, that the film censor is appointed. It is for him to hold a reasonable balance between legitimate and necessary safeguards and prudism. There is, howe.ver, another aspect of the censorship question which requires close attention. A proportion of the films which are released, while they contain nothing doubtful or salacious, are definitely prejudicial to the maintenance of British individuality and British standards. This is almost wholly due to the predominating American influence in film production. The power of the film is so tremendous and so far-reach-ing that this influence and its effect upon the national individuality cannot he ignored. This is, however, not a matter for the film censor but for the British producers. The opinion was expressed in the course of the debate upon this question in the House, that Elstree is too greatly influenced in its production methods by Hollywood. There is some justification for this criticism and it is regrettable that it should be so. On the other hand, very noticeable strides have been made in the number and standard of the British pictures which are being released. The growth of the British film industry must necessarily be slow for it must meet what is perhaps the greatest competi-

tive organisation in the world. The British Empire, not England or the United Kingdom alone, in its literature and history and 1 its infinite variety, offers an inexhaustible fund of material for the film producer. America has already recognised this fact( and the publie both in this and other countries of the Empire, has recognised the merit of many of its productions. But the great bulk of the films released throughout the world are still Ameriean in setting and' this is a fact which is liable to distort a (proper sense of proporti'on. No broadminded people will ever shut out Ameriean films because they are Ameriean, but in the meantime, so long as the censor does his duty, the Empire should endeavour to foster its own film individuality by every means in its power.