NO “LOW TONE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 38, 7 May 1927, Page 23 (Supplement)

NO “LOW TONE”

AUSTRALIAN PICTURES “FLAMING YOUTH’S” DRAWING POWER The motion picture industry in Australia is being inquired into by a Parliamentary committee. A strong denial has been given from the managerial side that pictures exhibited in Australia have a “low tone.”

“There are no pictures of doubtful morality in Australia,” said Mr. W. J. Howe, president of the Motion Picture Exhibitors’ Association of Australia, in answer to Dr. Nott, M.L.A., who cross-

examined him at a sitting of the committee which is inquiring into the motion picture industry. Mr. Howe added that all films had to pass the censor, who was the most moral man in Australia. Appeal From Censor Dr. Nott: Well, if he is the most moral man in Australia, how do you explain your earlier statement that he should not be allowed to judge finally what is good for the people here? Mr. Howe replied that he had advo-

cated a board of appeal from the censor’s decisions. He denied that the most popular films were those founded on novels about sex, or termed "spicy.” In Australia he thought the spor' ng picture was the greatest draw. "Flaming Youth” did not enjoy unprecedented box office returns. He disagreed with the statement that 40 per cent, of the films shown in Australia were not fit for children. He denied also that the conduct of motion pictures anywhere was what might be called "low tone,” and he did not think that the way in which theatres were supervised could be held responsible for the behaviour of people in them. The standard of picture theatres was Improving rapidly. Certainly managers received complaints that in the theatre children had been molested, but you could scarcely say that these regrettable incidents, were unique to theatres. They occurred in other places.

They certainly were not encouraged by improper pictures, because there

were no improper pictures in Australia. If there were, the exhibitors would not show them. They were not inclined to put their Sunday morals in their pocket on the chance of reaping a good box office harvest. He was always ready to show Australian productions if they were good enough. “The Sentimental Bloke,” with several others, had been good enough. He certainly would be surprised to learn that an Australian producer had otf«r*d to produce four pic-

tures at his own risk, if —providing the standard was suitable—certain exhibitors would show them, and had been discouraged. No Prejudice Any . icture, from any part of the world, would sell if it was up to the standard. There was no prejudice against Australian pctures, as he had shown by exhibiting almost every one of them. Speaking of the British quota of 7i per cent. Empire films he remarked that he could not see what this would effect, as the theatres already showed that percentage of Australian and British films.

He had refused to exhibit certain British pictures, because they were not good enough. He would resent a Gove.ament telling him what kind of article he must sell in his business, though he would do it if the authorities assured him of compensation for loss.

The Commonwealth Government might develop the industry of producing films by subs'. Msing a company. To manufacture 104 pictures each year a capital of £500,000 would be required, he thought. He was attracted by the idea of a national theatre, in which technicians and artists and writers might be trained. The best escape from the impasse of the moment he believed to lie in something like this. Australia possessed a few men who, educated by experience in America and Germany, would be able to produce first-class pictures. At the moment Australian pictures were not marketable in other countries, and in America he thought they failed because they were not of a sufficient standard to compete with the films produced there. He denied that there was a combine against British pictures, and did not believe that American film firms could "tie up” exhibitors. Expurgated Picture Mr. Howe denied that "Don Juan” would have a better box office value than an Australian picture because it was manufactured abroad. The committee watched the screening of a picture with which Mr. O’Reilly (Commonwealth Censor of Films) illustrated his evidence befor.the committee. The committee saw pieces cut from films, and a picture that had been expurgated entirely.