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New Zealand Listener, Volume 15, Issue 388, 29 November 1946, Page 33

Sir,-Not only as a counter to "One of the Bobby-soxers" (Listener, November 1), but also because I have so much appreciation of G.M.’s film criticisms I should like to put the opposite point of view. Like your correspondent, I read the weekly film reviews, and find them fair and rational. G.M. gives praise and adverse criticism where they are merited, and while not assuming that all readers have the same tastes as he has, usually summarises a film so that people of differing tastes can make a _ reliable judgment. z His little figures at the beginning of each review seem to indicate his own reaction tg the film, and I should say that he does "get a real good laugh or a thrill from a picture" when these are not provided at the expense of the intelligence of the audience. A few months ago I had the opportunity of seeing some of the films reviewed by G.M. before they came to this country and this pre-knowledge gave me an excellent opportunity to assess his criticism, compare it with popular opinion elsewhere, and with my own idea of the films concerned. The result is a very high regard for his opinion and for the unbiased manner in which he deals with his subject. ; May I point out the valuable work done by G.M. for country people in

particular. Nothing is more annoying than to go to a show during one’s rare visits to town only to find that it is a complete flop. Naurally one does not always agree with all points of G.M.’s criticism, but the summary he gives is a very valuable guide in choosing a programme. Did the hyphenated word "Bobbysoxer" come into vogue during the late war? I have never before heard it nor have I the faintest idea what it could mean. Up to 1939 I was not too far behind the times to be unaware of the meaning of current slang, but I should be grateful if your future adolescent correspondents would explain to readers the meaning of war-coined phrases for the benefit of those who were not there. |

N.R.

H.

(Heriot).