THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 12, 1938.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS
HAT will be the outcome of
W the present crisis in the Bri-
tish film trade? Undoubtedly there, is a possibility that the whole of this great industry in England may be brought under government con- trol. This was more than suggest ed a few weeks ago when Dr. Leslie Burgin, parliamentary secretary to the Board of Trade, speaking to those interested in the commercial side of the cinema, said significant- ly, "Take the hint reorganise your selves before you are reorganised from without."
One thing is certain if govern- ment interference on a large scale is to be avoided, the British film in- dustry will have rapidly to become much more prosperous than it is to-day, for as
a
commer-
PICTURE?
these mistakes. But it is to be fear- ed that it would also have missed that magnificent "cut" from the shot which Lord Stacey fires at Blake to the deck of the Victory at The war completely has been for a score of years. The Trafalgar, when Nelson is hit by a authority. shattered the nascent industry, and technical rules of picture making are French marksman. This is a stir- caused a situation in which neutral still what they were half a decade ring transition. It makes the heart in ago. Nevertheless, a crisis in Bri- race. And it is typical of American America had merely to walk
the prize. Then, tish films has once again come into films, which, in spite of innumerable and carry off
It is the first that cannot defects, are alive in a sense in which again, after long and bitter strug- being. gies, when the British industry had be ascribed to outside causes. Fun- English films rarely are. once more succeeded in establishing damentally, it is the result of the are "provincial" in being frequent- of talkies simple fact that, in an open mark- ly unacquainted with the standards itself, the introduction
of art, they are "provincial" also in teeming with life, energy, and vigor. Therefore, they prosper, and deserve to prosper. They have the bad taste of Dickens, and his enormous vital- ity. They are positive, not negative, in outlook. That is the lesson they
By Harold Hobson
(in the "Christian Science Monitor")
If they
cial proposition it is at the blew its economic foundations into ket, the majority of British films have to teach to British films. moment in- a very precarious the skies. condition indeed. And from this there follows an inescapable corol- lary-the average quality of Eng- lish pictures needs drastic improve-
ment.
The present crisis in British films is considerably more serious than either of its predecessors. The first of these came just after the World War started. Before 1914, English films were rapidly building up for themselves a position of power and
THE
IN
cannot compete with the generality of their American rivals. I say “majority” advisedly. For certain British pictures are as good as any commercial film in the world.
PALAZZO DORIA FOR HITLER
The passing of the so-called Quota Act at this juncture provided Eng- lish pictures with a small but cer-
In these circumstances, it might tain market in Britain itself, and be profitable to inquire what is the under cover of this protection, the fundamental quality that American industry began to expand for the films have and which British pic- third time. Since then, no exter- tures usually lack. The film in-
Rome, To-day. nal untoward event has occurred dustry throughout its career has The most magnificent of all The general condition of British in- been hindered by the want of seri-Rome's palaces and one of the out- dustry is more prosperous than it
WORLD GOES BY By “ULYSSES"
the case of a mysterious dis- smuggle a dozen
*
*
*
Asked what verb. sap. meant, a bright schoolboy replied "The word
ous criticism. Its technical marvels, its wealth, its scenic splendors have standing rococo edifices in the blinded the eyes of commentators world, the Palazzo Doria, will be to its imaginative poverty, with the the residence of Herr Hitler during result that, standards being low, it his visit to Rome in the Spring, is still, artistically speaking, in ma
state of childhood. I do not wish says “Giornale d'Italia.""
to repeat that old mistake here by suggesting that American films, as
Special feature of the Palace is
The Palace, which is located on the Corso Umberto, close to the Palazzo Venezia, - was designed in the first half of the 17th Century
a whole, can, judged by the criteria ita Hall of Mirrors, while its bottles of Burof any other art be considered famous picture gallery containing They are not But in one over 800 masterpieces, is known to cial, anxiety was first felt when it toms. In due course he arrived at respecta vital respect, too-they all lovers of
appearance of a Whitehall offi-gundy through the English Cus-good. was discovered that his office had the Customs with a large hamper. are better than British films. not been slept in.
This he begged the official not to
The position may perhaps best be that expressed compel him to open, since it con-
by pointing out tained a very rare wild cat which American films are "provincial;” and might escape. The official was not English films "suburban." The ar- deceived by the story, and made tistic implications of those him open the hamper, whereupon a have wandered so far from large cat jumped out and disappear geographical significance that dwel- ed in the crowd. The man dashed lers bath in the suburbs and in the English university. off to recapture the animal, looking provinces can, employ them without
for it everywhere, even back on board the boat. A little later he appeared at the C
Customs again, very out of breath and firmly hold
of an idiot."
踌
*
A lighted firework was thrown on to the field during a football match at an The referee sternly ordered it to go off.
Smuggling
*
terms
their
embarrassment. "Suburban," used in this sense, suggests a certain re- finement a meticulous avoidance of the appearance of vulgarity, a care-
by three of the most famous archi- tects of the period.-Trans-Ocean.
GOLD EXPORTS TO FRANCE
The philosophy of to-day seems to be:-To speed is human, to being down the lid of the hamper. Thetul and snobbish insistence on good caught, a fine.
Paris, To-day. official, apologising profusely, let taste which, because it is entirely him pass without question, and negative, and does not flow from
Gold to the value of $89,000,- through the Customs went the any positive quality, is the very 000 was transferred from France dozen of Burgundy which had, antithesis of artistic vigor. The to the United States in 1936, says from France, a man oddly enough, been substituted for majority there are notable Returning
ex- the newspaper "l'Intransigeant.” ceptions to the rule of British The paper says that this move- accepted a wager that he could not the aforementioned cat.
films fall into this classification.ment continued, although on a less- They are painfully anxious not to er scale, during the first nine be ill-bred, they do not wound or months of 1937, when $38,000,000- shock the susceptibilities; in fact, were transferred. they do not do anything at all. They make no impression of vulgárity. The only impression they make is one of insipidity.
HINT
To MOTHER!
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Keep me well
and happy.
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The movement was reversed subsequently, and between No- vember 10, 1937, and January 10, 1938, gold estimated at $45,- the 000,000, was exported from United States to France. Now, American pictures are not This figure includes $5,000,000 the least bit like that. Their rau-worth of gold on board the French cous voices shriek and scream vul- liner "Champlain," which left New garity. Their humour is often crude, York a week ago.-Trans-Ocean. and their sentiment such as to make the cheeks hot. Their artistic bad
taste is frequently incredible AMA KUANG-HUN IN
the end of that mbitious film, “Lloyds of — London,“ the soleman notes of Handel's Dead March are immediately followed by the faunty
PEIPING
Peiping, To-day.
It is announced that the Chinese Kuang-
| air of “Rule, Britannia" "The way in wihch the hero, Jonathan Blake, talks about this duty to England Mohammedan leader, Ma makes any educated audience wrig bun, has arrived in Peiping to nego gle with embarrassment. · An Eng-tiate with the provisional govern-
Fran Deean fish film would have avoided both
ent.
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