FILM CENSOR'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1916, Page 3

FILM CENSOR'S TASK.

850,000 FEET EXAMINED. THREE FILMS "TURNED DOWN" AND OTHERS CUT. Mr. William Jolliffe (the censor of cinematograph films) stated in conversation with a newspaper man on Wednesday that since he commenced operations on September 13th last he has put through close on 350,000 feet of film, which he considered fairly good work, seeing that in that period there have been three Saturdays and one public holiday (Dominion Day), not to mention the Sundays. Three films, said Mr. Jolliffe, he had been compelled to "turn down" altogether, and parts of about a dozen others had to be cut out; and in every case, so far as he could judge, his decision was accepted willingly Up to Saturday last he was working till 10 o'clock every night, except Saturdays, but now he is working the ordinary Government hours—9 to 5, with an hour for lunch. "HYPHENATED" AMERICANS AGAIN. "It is not necessary, I suppose," said the reporter, "for you to examine all the films —'seenies' and war pictures, for example?" "Well," was the reply, "we are informed that certain war pictures are got up by the Pro-German Americans for the purpose of belittling our Allies; and, therefore, it is just as necessary to examine the war films as the others; excepting the official pictures, of course. And, as for the 'sccnies,' it is necessary to go through them also, because you never know. You never know." "Do you find the work trouble your eyes at all?" "No," said Mr. Jolliffe, "I haven't found it trouble my eyes so far. But I have got a pair of 'London smoke' glasses to take off the glare a little. 'Prevention is better than cure,' you know." PROPRIETORS TAKE KINDLY TO | CENSORSHIP. Mr. Jolliffe expressed the opinion that the censorship is undoubtedly required, as the tendency of the present day is to produce pictures with "suggestion" in them. He stated that he had been met by the film proprietors and importers with uniform consideration and courtesy. They had all taken kindly to the censoring of the films, although it had cost them money; and they were working with him in a friendly way both in Auckland and Wellington. All the films, he said, are imported through these two ports. There are two important firms in Auckland, and all the rest are in Wellington. NONE OTHER GENUINE. The reporter had the pleasure of Viewing a section of one film, "Woman and Wine," with the censor; and he was also shown the five feet of film, containing 80 reproductions in all of the certificate bearing the name of the picture—Mark Twain's "Prince and the Pauper," as it happened—and the signature of the censor. The five feet of film take approximately five seconds to screen, or just long enough for the audience to see the name of the picture, and the signature, iVm. Jolliffe," which assuredly will, bebefore long, become by far the best known signature in New Zealand. "Without this signature," it might almost be said, "no film is genuine." At all events, since the first of the present month, without the signature no film can be lawfully -exhibited. The words of clause 2 of the Act, it may be interesting to note are "On and after the Ist day of October, 1916, it shall not be lawful to exhibit any cinematograph film unless it has been approved in the manner hereinafter provided."