THE CRITIC CRITICISED

New Zealand Listener, Volume 8, Issue 184, 31 December 1942, Page 17

THE CRITIC CRITICISED

WO recent letters to "The Listener" about our film reviews open up the question of what is the critic’s function; to say what he thinks or to say what some people might like him to think? Here is a condensation of these letters, together with G.M.’s reply.

To The Editor Sir -I’ll give G.M. his due-he can pen a readable column, but does he, each week, have to try and show the people of New Zealand that the men who produce the pictures know nothing regarding their trade? The mere fact that pictures are grossing more these days must, besides the fact that the war usually ups the entertainment world, show that Louis Mayer, Schenck, Ned Depinet, B. G. De Sylva and Nat Blumberg all know how the public’s pulse is going. Louis Mayer’s company, M.G.M. has a standard of high-class entertainment, while Buddy De Sylva’s organisation, Paramount, always fetches the fans to the ticket box. Now out of the two companies mentioned, how many pictures of entertainment value, warranted those many smart-alec quips of G.M.’s. Maybe one or two, but why does he insist on panning so many good shows, as he must admit quite a number of people read the magazine and may be swayed by his seemingly bigoted opinions? Why doesn’t he say, well this show will appeal to those who like frothy comedy, but the drama fans had better stay away; not just, this picture out-smarts the smart guys who made it-it should have stopped in the can! Does this get you anywhere! If you ask, as I have done, members of the industry their opinion on your column, they laugh and then some. I enjoy reading G.M.’s column, but would he please, in future, remember that the men who make these shows, the like of Orson Welles and Walt. Disney, are not being smart. A cool million dollars a head isn’t being smart. It is being sensible and giving the public what it wants, which I sincerely hope he'll do!

JOHN

DOE

(Whenuapai)-