“PROVOCATIVE” WAR FILM

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1022, 12 July 1930, Page 10

“PROVOCATIVE” WAR FILM

NEW ZEALAND’S CENSOR; BANS “ALL QUIET” CRITICS AGREE ON MERITS j The film story of “All Quiet On the Western Front,” is proving as provocative as the book. Though responsible critics abroad have not hesitated to call the film a screen classic, “shorn of the supposed indecencies which led to the book’s undoing,” the New Zea- j land Government censor, Mr. W. A. Tanner, will not allow the talking picture to be released.

After attending a special screening in Wellington of the firm version of Erich Maria Remarque's grimly powerful story, Mr. Tanner has declared that he is not able to see that the film would conform to an entertainment of. advantage to New Zealanders. He felt the responsibility of refusing the permit, and did not regret the lodging of an appeal against his decision.

“The only merit the film might possess is an appeal to peace,” said the censor. Mr. Tanner has been able to detect only one merit where Australian writers have found many. The Sydney Press has hurried to declare “All Quiet” as a production of surpassing magnificence in its appeal and message. No complaint has heen made against vulgarity. Critics declare the film to be more significant than Remarque’s book—without passages which offended sections of the public and some librarians. These are opinions by leading newspapers: In Sydney.—The “Sun”: Surely if people of all nations saw “All Quiet,” there could never agqin be war. The “Labour Daily.”—"Devastating and relentless in its indictment of war.”

“Daily Guardian.”—lf you can see this picture and still want to urge young men into the next war, you deserve to be the first recruit called up.” The “Evening News.” —War revealed in terror, not in glory. “Daily Telegraph Pictorial.”—lf tho book has done anything to limit the posibilities of another carnage, the screen story will do more. And in the United States. —The New York “Tirpes”: A notable achievement. sincere and earnest.

“Variety.”—The best war picture ever filmed. The League of Nations could make no better investment than to buy the master print. The "Herald-Tribune,” Chicago.— Enormously compelling. The New York "Telegraph.”—The best motion picture that has been been made, talking or silent. Newspapers of representative classes of thought have agreed on the suitability of “All Quiet” for presentation to the public, but Mr. Tanner has isolated himEelf from this overwhelming praise, while admitting an appeal to peace.