Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-02
Chinese Censor Foreign Films
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

censorship law may come to Americans
as q surprise. 1t reads: Films In
which crime or violence and the use
of firearms by evil-doers form the chief
attraction are prohibited"
Other clauses relate to films likely
adversely to affect morals, In view
of what the American people have for
so long thought to be typical China,
the clause which prohibits the show
ing Of films which promote super
stitious beliefs, heretical doctrines or
feudal theories" may also appear sur
prising. The grotesque masks and the
idols and all the other curious and
exotic paraphernalia of oriental modes
seem not to have been properly inter-
preted in some films which have been
sent to China.
The stage itself, 1t must be remem-
bered, has for many, many centuries
occupied place not far removed from
sacredneSs in China. Acting Is one Of
the oldest arts of that oldest nation in
the world whose civilization antedates
that of the Occident by unnumbered
centuries.
Theatrical Profession HOnOred.
The position of actor in China in
many instances has been an hereditary
dignity, holding special favor with
people of all degrees. Plays chiefly
have historical and religious back
grounds. Many have been played since
hundreds of years before william
Shakespeare was born and still are
hailed with delight by the populace.
The longest runs known to the Ameri-
can Stage-not excluding Uncle Toms
Cabin" or "Abies Irish Rose''-are but
one-night benefits in comparison with
the Chinese performances.
Like child who best likes to hear
the bedtime story he has heard the most
often, the Chinese people best like their
most ancient plays.
This tradition has not prevented O.
remarkable invasion of China by the
motion picture and the censorship may
be regarded as aimed chiefly at Amert-
can films, because of the $50 to 500
which are being imported year from
all sources, 30 per cent come from the
United States. That the screen repre-
sensations are so well received despite
the fact that the overwhelming majority
Of auditors can neither read the caption
lines nor understand the English words
in sound pictures, Is that the native
Chinese play Is largely pantomirne.
Recently, q new element has entered
in that native companies are producing
q few films based on the old Chinese
plays and, II sound pictures, employing
the Chinese tongue. Technically these
films are inferior to the American spec
tacles, but an analysis Of box offlce re-
ceipts Of theaters showing foreign and
native Aims reveals that when Chinese
film Is exhibited 1t draws the greater
patronage.
Considering the fact that there are
10000 900 people in China and that II
has been proved that the Chinese like
motion pictures, 1t Is conceivable that
China may some day become the great
est single film market In the world
There are 233 theaters with an aggre-
gate seating capacity Of 10000 and al
are constantly well patronized. Nearly
5000, 900 linear feet of film a year Is
being sent to China from the United
States. The surface has barely beer
scratched.
But the American flm producer must
bear in mind that In making picture:
for the Chinese he must not ridiculC
John the Chinaman.