"49th PARALLEL"

New Zealand Listener, Volume 7, Issue 157, 26 June 1942, Unnumbered Page

"49th PARALLEL"

Sir,-I would like to support "G.M." in his criticism of "49th Parallel." As Propaganda the film was, as "G.M." said in effect, wrongly used and failed to have that effect desired by propaganda, which is, to breed hate and contempt for the villain. As a psychologist I had no difficulty in recognising the points raised by "G.M." It is a fact that our sympathy is extended to the huntedwhen others are doing the hunting. A terribly weak -climax was to pick a bad character to defeat the German lieutenant. The close-up of the prominent eyes, gloating with apparent madness and blood lust, instantly transferred our emotional height to an anticlimax. Of course I too may be jiiletaben: but when I saw the picture I endeavoured to register the emotions of the people around me as expressed by their behaviour, and the result was a complete justification of the criticism. I congratulate "G.M." and trust he will continue in the same fearless strain. S. W. LANE (Christchurch),

Sir-I have read "G.M.’s" film reviews avidly since their inception, and have found them refreshing after the stereotyped publicity of other. newspapers, and moreover, intelligent, original and enlightening. But when I read the review of 49th Parallel I was "knocked back" a little. Those who had seen the film had agreed that it was a great show. So I thought "G.M.’s" comments were inclined to be a little "sensationalist." Then I went and saw it just to find out for myself. Well, without wasting words, I apologise for the thoughts I had entertained about him. 49th Parallel was pretty ordinary. But I do not think the propaganda failed entirely. We saw Eric Portman as the determined, ruthless, Nazi, hounded by 10,000,000 Canadians. Well, is that so bad after all? We are sure, aren’t we, that the Nazi, young, virile, and fanatically National Socialist, is a pretty tough and resourceful opponent? But don’t we know that in the end we shall beat all the Nazis? Psychologically, then, didn’t we know all through the film that he (Portman), would be beaten in the end? Now my complain is that the way he was captured was as weak and as unconvincing as the last--the notorious Jast — five minutes of Suspicion. That is where the propaganda failed, I think — why give imperturbable, dignified Raymond Massey the piéce de resistance? Apart from that, however, I tolerated the show. But the fact is that "G.M.’s" caustic comments were justified-hence my apology. Thank goodness we're allowed to express our own opinions-

even. about the good sense of the British Government putting £25,000 into 49th Parallel.

A. G.

T.

(Picton),