1936-01-11 — Page 3

THE

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. SATURDAY, JANUARY 11,

1936.

ENTERTAINMENT

"FIRST" 'NIGHT" Talking

You take a Pair

of Scissors.

Pity the distributor of American and British films in the Far

East.

Harsh things are said about him, and here and there you

hear matterings of “Shylock".

he him censor.---

But whatever his faults he has one Nemesis-the

His films are censored in Nanking, in Canton, in Shanghai, and

in Singapore, in Manila and in Hongkong.

Each censor charges from $15 to $50 for the privilege of cut-

ting previous footage from his films,

The films you see in this part of the globe are subject to the most thorough censorship in the world.

TAKE Hongkong. Before a picture banned in the French Concession of

can be screened in this Colony it Shanghai,

a certain must pass through the hands of the same authorities ordered the cutting Connor at Nanking, the of every line in which Chinese

censors in character was referred to as "tho International Settlement Shanghal, sometimes (when the film Ambassador of the French Republic." is nervened there first) the Provincial censor in Canton, and the Govern ment censor in Hongkong.

Often, what is left of the picture

to make leave enough doesn't decent-sized short.

"Painted Voil" Out Hongkong's censors have their own special brand of humour, and you don't see films here that have Ilong kong as their locale. This was the "The banning of for the reason The distributors could, of course, Palated Veil." show 'n Blm in Hongkong without bothering any but the Hongkong so would be censors. But to do

Anancial, suicide, since normally only four prints, or positives, are supplied to the whole of the Far East. One

of them goos to Manila, another Lo Japan, a third to Singapore and the fourth to Nanking. We get the Nanking copy.

Shakespeare Sins

In the case of "Midsummer Night's "fairy" of the so much Dream,' scenes were cut out by Nanking that we had to get the Manila copy. Hongkong is not quite as fortunato Was Shanghal where,

un-

until recently films were censored by

authorities of both the International

and French Settlement, as well Nankings

好感

CHAO WING-KL.

Nowadaya, Shanghai has a joint BUL censors, Board censors Board that hasn't altered matters materially. In the cosmopolitan city of the north-and to a certain extent in Hongkong other factors than risque- ness, gangsterdom and other censorial delights are taken into consideration. If the German or the Russian, or the Italian or Jewish communities think

"Charlie Chan in Shanghai" was that their race is maligned or ridiculed in any picture, they promptly banned in this Colony because it de- protest to the proper authorities, und pleted

"Gardener, lover, husband, warrior, Emperor." See Page 2

smugglers. That Walter

in nine cases out of ten the protests Oland was triumphant against them local no difference to the nre heeded.

made

A striking example was the picture imilarly "Ching Seas" was pass. "We Live Again," based on Tolstoy's

tion." The Chinese censors ed out entirely because it depicted objected to scenes which pirates, led by Wallace Beery, who it termed "liberal in regard to sex was ultimately defeated after

Russian stirring reels by Clark Gable. relations. The Shanghai

"Good Earth" and "Oil from the

In

community protested against tinuity in which

con-

ten

the cruelty of Luray of China" are doomed before Tsarist Russian nobles to the peasants they reached here. was depicted. The French authorities.

"Shanghai Express" is gathering

didn't like the parts showing police cobwebs in the vault of Its Shanghai authorities striking prisoners. Each distributors. protest resulted in the shipping of--

the Overal feet of film, much to anguish of the distributor and ex- hibitor.

Stand By Their Guns The reasons for banning or cutting a pleture are quite often obscure, but it must be admitted that our Far Eastern censora know how to stand

All Good Films

You will probably know that all these pictures were graded an "Out- standing" by Landon erities.

You don't hear the distributora grumble aloud about censorship, be cause they do not want to offend the canipotetit and ubiquitous censors.

Mrs. Cyril Brown as the dancer is Philharmonic's "A Country Girl"

Broadcast Brevitics

A “SPOT" OF BAD

LUCK FOR ZBW CALLING all listeners!

Stand by for a few minites while we hand a bouquet to the most interesting personality ever to broadcast through the local microphone,

A handclap for the Rev. C. B. Surgent who gave his 64th Recital of Grand Opera music and commentaries last night

When Mr. Sargent reached the half century mark a week or so back, he received an extra large batch of "fan" mail.

Now, you lovers of good musle, is your cus to write And, tell him how much you have appreciated the whole series, for last night's 64th broadcast was the last, for Mr. Sargent is leaving the Colony shortly on cave.

All listeners, I am sure, will join me in wishing him bon voyage, and plenty of rent Grand Opera while he le in Europe.

Perhaps, if all goes well, the series will be resumed when he rturns to the Diocesan Boys' School six montlik hence,

COMMENT: Mr. Bargent name U.1.8. Headmaster In 1932 nurreeding Rev. W. T. Featherstone.. Won uralte Deseon August 10, 1934, ordained i'real March 25 ans year, Keep sportsman, and has turned for K.C.C, and ILK.C.C. on cricket fald.

BRICKS & BOUQUETS

If You Must Gossip, Gossip Here

HERE THEY ARE AGAIN!

is three weeks old. | § This entertainment page Readers, are beginning to write about it-- Some-|-| like it; one or two make suggestions for its im- provement. One of the suggestions will come into effect next Saturday. That is that it should be printed with the Telegraph's art paper pictorial supplement,

One reader wants a weekly bridge feature on the page. It just wants a sufficient number to show that they're interested and

Ileard of truckin"]

It's a new dance craze sweeping America. Experts

to be another Charleston are saying already it's going epidemic. The truck is a simple negro shuffle, or, rather, strut. You hear the tune, you do the strut, and you feel good. (That's what they say.)

Current temple of the new cult in the New York

Colton Club. The cabaret trucks, the waiter tencks, the doorman comes in and trucks. It's an idea....

AKE a date at the Queen's Theatre on Wednesday

night.

MAKE

"A Country Girl" will be there.

Some girl.

Not over one cusa-word for the chorus girls from the producer.

Not because he's a paraon, but because they've been no amenable.

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him, but suspect he merived lots of practice training IRON KETTLES & SAUCEPANS 25 ch.

Rev. Cyril Brown, In charge of Philharmonie's pro- duction this year, has proved a real find. Haven't asked years ago at Home. Ministers generally do, you know. Dalay O'Keefe, in charge of Dancing, is doing Al work, and there'll be real team work in this year's

Rehearsals have worked

wonders, probably because

hovo been able the principals this year are so experienced, so polished,

And producer and henchmen

chorus.

to concentrate on the lessor fry.

THERMOS FLASKS

Preliminary baskets of flowers to Anne Winter (3. SMALL ATTACHE CASES

Bernard Murah), Wiania Lawson, Nina Valentine, Bobble Blake, Mrs. F. T. Portalllon, whose photos you ace cise-

cts.

25 each.

25ct

cts.

each.

where on this page. Jack Grenhnny, Walter G!!, C.W.EGLASS JUGS, SUGAR BASINS, BUTTER DISHES

Whisky-nodns to

Bishop, Walter Gill.

Good show. Good cast. Gond Limu, and by all. Scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Satur-

Matinee on Saturday. day at 9.20 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. Mali

to serious song and music by the picture people, in creating n demand for Grand. Opera. ZBW could do with some additions to its library. Mr. Sargent is going Home on

'Nuff Sed.

Hint to ZBW. Broadcasts, such as those given in the past by the Rev. Mr. Sargent, plus growing attention "leave.

Five reusons why Hongkong men will leave Home and visit the gripps to-night. Only one member is missing

That is why, when you approach Negro Film

them for information, they shrug We've had none of our

In this photo of the Galety Girls, opening at the H, K. Hotel to-night,

and blandly reply: Actor In Jail

Lancer," which had nothing to da "Censorship? . with China, was banned completey films

be Can you recall having seen a news everywhere excopt in Hongkong,

New York, Jan. 3.

WEEK-END ON THE SCREEN

this column last week has probably Anna Karening: Reviewed else-

Ginger where Your choice of seeing it been seen at least once by most of

you. William Powell and from to-day at either Alhambra or

Rogers in another "Thin Man," and King's. Gurbo's best picture, Freddie well worth seeing again. Ends at ST CITEPIN FETCHIT, negro film ("David Copperfield") Bartholomew

in mindr roles; Basil Oriental to-night; to be replaced to--- netor, spent last night in jaitlexcele

niment stenling Garbo's morrow.by thunder and Frederic March march- He is alleged to have hit a processing on.

"Midsummer Night's Dream" re- on the hoal with a stickied on Page G. First ambitious when the man handed him a writ

Stepin's lawyer denies the charge. effort to screen Shakespeare and suc

ceeds so well that you don't know It's --Router.

Amertean. See it, even though you have to pay extra..

server

cause in the view of the Nanking gazette of the Sino-Japanese war in Authorities itglorified imperialism and Shanghai? Do you, to day, ever see sceses of the Sino-Japanese tension in suppression of coloured races.

You bet you don't. ufter being charged with felonious "Olive of India," another picture the north?

assault. But you can see them in newspapers with its locale in India, was pursed by Nanking and Shanghai, but was and magazines, road treason and sedi- temporarily banned in Canton when tion in books, or listen to propaganda the Indian community objected. In on your radlo. There's no censorship Hongkong, important scenes (notably on these, to my mind, more harmful one of the Black Hole) were cut. disseminators of trouble.

What the Far East wants, "Madame Du Barry" was passed by Nanking and Hongkong, but was than anything, is someone to put a

In "The Scarlet Pimpernel" the bit of sense into censorship.

more

Stepin became famous among film netore for his high-speed negro dancing.

"Star of Midnight" mentioned

in

"Roberta" In which Ginger Rogers again shines with Fred Astaire and njoyous company of musicmakers. See it as one of the best musicals of the past year.

Browster's Millions shown Jack Buchanan at his best, Frivolous, happy, gay and amusing film that you'll like. Kowloonies can see at the Star to-morrow.

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