"A SEA OFF MUD."

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1920, Page 6

"A SEA OFF MUD."

GERMAN PICTURE THEATRES. By TeleErap'i.—Press Assn.—Copyrleht. London, Jan. 27The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Chronicle states that one of the earliest Government measures after the revolution was the abolition of the censorship. It had unfortunate results in the cinema world, owing to the extraordinary vogue of so-called Aufklarungs films, of which the ostensible purpose was to warn German youth against erotic tendencies. Since the removal of the censorship picture palaces have been flooded with masked oteeenities which the newspapers describe as a sea of mud. The public agitation is so great that a movement against the whole film industry is threatened, and the Government is introducing a universal cinema censorship, enabling the authorities to refuse to licence any film calculated to excite the base instincts. The judges will include as officials leading artists, writers, and also men and women of experience in training the young. Cinema manufacturers say that the Bill will kill the industry and are thoroughly organised for the fight. The biggest combination, known as the U.F.A. Company, has a capital of GO million marks and owns seven factories and 50 picture palaces.—Aus.-NZ. Cable Assn.