WHO WON?

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 22, 7 December 1934, Page 5

WHO WON?

S!MULTANEOUSLY with the devoting of a section of the "Radio Record" to British films comes the news that the Legion of Decency, formed some months ago in the United States for the purpose of "‘cleaning up the talkies,"’ has called off the battle. Whether the battle has ended because the enemy has been well and truly routed or whether a quiet conference or two behind ‘the scenes-has made the Legion sve differently we are not told. We do suspect however, that Hollywood’s method of cleaning up its films is to use a soap factory for the setting of one or two talkies! The British film industry is on an entirely different footing. In Hollywood the "star's the thing,’’ and film favourites have their pasts, presents and futures mauled about by countless gossip writers whose job it is to see that a million-dollar star is kept before the public-by fair means or foul. In England the vicious star system has not been developed to any great extent, British producers preferring to create a film, not to "glorify" one particular star, but to get the best possible out of the plot, the playwright’s lines, the settings, and every member of the cast. Where American stars have been imported and films made on the American idea of boosting the star, there is not one instance of the film having been an outstanding success. Probably the nearest approaches to the starring system are those talkies in which Gracie Fields and Jessie Matthews appear. a The English industry has grown up among the traditions of the English stage and it has, in consequence acquired a dignity and a -tanding that belies its youth. That New Zealand appreciates British films has been demonstrated by the successful seasons of many Eng: lish talkies. Capital is not lacking now for the production of films at Home, and the time is not far distant ' . when the making of talking pictures will be one of Britain’s greatest industries. ‘