From The Watch Tower

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 230, 17 December 1927, Page 8

From The Watch Tower

By '

"THE LOOK-OUT MAN"

A PICTURE MERGER The British motion picture enterprises associated -with the names of Lords Ashfield and Beaverbrook have “merged” with First National Pictures. and the Stanley Company of America. Hurrah for “British” pictures' THE DEATHLESS ARMY An army of 70,000 strong -will wander the Auckland education district for six weeks after next Tuesday, when the schools break up. Just imagine 70,000 children at large for six weeks! What a happy w-orld it will be. Each home -will be “Home, Sweet Home,” full of that sweet mischief which nothing but the heart of a child could conceive. Mother of Ten knows all about it — and she spanks the youngster and closes the kitchen door on him so that he cannot see her smile. CHItIHT AXD THE CINEMA Nothing seems sacred to the demands of Cash. The “King of Kings,” an American film, is not content to show the alleged life of Christ. It has to “fake” a love affair between Mary Magdalene and Judas Iscariot, “to satisfy the supposed demand for sex-appeal.” It is very apparent that men’s judgment goes mad sometimes. The Precentor of Southwark Cathedral describes the crucifixion of Christ as “most inspiring.” The Spanish inquisitors used to find inspiration in every trvist of the tortured limb of a “heretic.” One man of religion among the audience seems to have kept his balance. The film ends with the Ascension, which Father Dudley describes as like to “the conclusion of a grand ballet.” Nothing kills so readily as ridicule, and it is here where Father Dudley scores a victory for religion. LOYALTY AND SERVICE The motormen of the Auckland tramways are up in arms against a notice warning them that they are liable to forfeit good conduct holidays if they converse with passengers on the cars. The men contend that the present overcrowding makes it inevitable that passengers should congregate on the platforms, and, incidentally, address questions to the motormen. Mr. J. A. C. Allum’s reply to the resentment that is expressed by the men is: “We credit the motormen with too much common sense to think they will take any exception to the notice.” It might just as well be retorted that if Mr. Allum credits the motormen with so much common sense, there ought to be no need for such a warning. It is hard to avoid the suggestion that the men are being treated like children. If any warning is required, it ought to be addressed to the general public, not to the men. They have a hard enough task as it to conform to the multifarious rules and regulations which seem to be inseperable from a public administration. If a little less emphasis -were placed on irritating regulations, and more left to the good sense of the men, the tramway authorities would probably get much better results, besides encouraging a spirit of loyalty in the service, without which no private company could hope to effectively combat opposition. The tramways have strangled opposition. Let them take care not to strangle the loyalty and self-respect of the men.

BACK TO THE FIRST LOVE

Actors in England are furious. Politicians are indignant. The Lord Chamberlain is perturbed. And the cause of all this pother?—John Ellis, sometime hangman, says he is unable to understand what the fuss is about. Ellis, whose “cases” included some of England’s most notorious murderers, has been engaged (presumably to give versimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative) by the management of a theatre producing “The Life and Adventures of Charles Peace,” and part of his performance i 3 a realistic hanging, which, according to the “actor,” goes off beautifuliy each evening. Disgusting, mdect--t, outrageous, degrading—those are but a few of the adjectives that have boon used by the indignant ones. In the meantime, the public continues to demonstrate that it dearly loves outrage and degradation by fl "eking to the theatre in crowds that can scarcely be coped -with. It is a mo-vi instinct, asserting itself, the same instinct that draws women in hundreds to murder trials, and keeps men waiting outside ■prison gates for a glimr - ” of the hangman “with his little hag” emerging from a professional engagement. Regrettable, no doubt, but inerrdi - able. The producers of ‘’- - Grand Guignol long ago realised that horror paid handsomely. And the management of “The Life and Adventures of Charles Peace” has profited by their example. Still, the Lord Chamberlain may yet do something to justify the income he receives as Controller of fhe Drama. If so, Mr. Ellis will have to return to his first love.