The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-12-01
and
CLOSE-UPS


list such q job under dangerous oc-
equations" especially for one who
has built UP somewhat OF a reputa-
ton as friend OF the Soviet cine
ma, Here's your acid test, Seymour.
We're watching you cloSelyl
During the making OF ~Duck Soup
one OF the actors was directed to get
up before group of unemployed and
deliver speech. He was instructed
to talk straight" and make it sound
realistic. When the sequence was
completed 1t sounded so genuinely
stirring and convincing that the big
studio bosses Immediately ordered It
deleted. How they fear tho light
Pity B. g. De sylvia, producer for
Fox Films, who complains that "there
are no youthful, beautiful sensations
in New York" "And we visited every
theatre, every cabaret aud night club
in New York;" sobs our respondent
pulchritude hunter.
According to Lewis Milestone, its
director, the film ''NikoIai Kourbov''
will depict "a Russian of low class
during the CzariSt regime and in
modern Russian society,"" but will ex-
press no verdict on the Soviet sys-
tenn.
No one is naive enough to expect a
favorable verdict on "the Soviet sys-
tenn" in a film made by Hollywood,
Of course. But Milestone, whose splen-
did record Is stained only by his
'Hallelujah, I'm a Bum" can be
confident that the audiences will
reach fair verdict If by miracle
the film barons permit him to pre-
sent an objective picture of modern
Russian society" uncolored by class
venom. It's never been done before
and I'll remain skeptical until see
the last shot fading out of the screen.
Dear Comrade Lens:
A little over a week ago you re-
corded in your very Sprightly column
the fact that Dorothea Week and
her husband were leading Nazis. In
commenting on the then Forthcoming
production, Cradle Song" you prom
ised that we'd "let them have it."
meaning the star as well as the jew
ish producers.
| I don't know II any organized pro-
test was made, but the least we could
have done was to utterly disregard
the film or point out the presence
OF an active Nazi in the "star" role.
Instead, we actually give very val
liable space in the Daily" to a re-
view OF the film chat It was an
unfavorable review is beside the
point with no suggestion Of a boycott
of the picture.
The efficacy OF the boycott has
been proven before, and it might not
be amiss to broadcast this informa-
ion now.
With conradely greetings,
| BELLE BAKER,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
It is my opinion that. the case Of
Week and her husband offered a
most unusual opportunity for a popu-
lar movement to drive the Nazis out
Of the Hollywood studios and to ex-
pose the alliance OF American film
interests Cox, Paramount with
German fascism. And in the case Of
Cradle Song" there was room for
something more than boycott. I'm
tempted to suggest that the comrades
in the New York Film and Photo
League are little dizzy with the
success" of their excellent Film
School and are losing sight of the
Importance Of struggle on an even
more important front. The fact is
that I communicated the informa-
ton received from Hollywood on
the Week affair to the League inn
mediately upon its receipt. Your let
ter is most welcome. The alertness of
workers Is the best guarantee against
our falling asleep on the job.
The Cinema" says Emil Ludwig
after brief stay in Hollywood, sis
art" The influence of Mae West on
some of these learned professors is
truly astounding!
King Henry VIII, has, aside from
number of other more or less Iaud-
able personal achievements, gone
! uoni1 1Al ll1obOIy do Cllc iIlOSb pIUllllC
and accomplished ructator (Doc Lut-
fingers word for a belcher). Charles
Laughton's rather mild Interpretation
OF same in the British film Henry
WIZ has caused Sir Frank Sander
son, Conservative member in the
House of Commons, to ask Sir Sam
uel Hoare, Secretary Of State for IN
dia, to ban the film in that British
colony. Historical authenticity Is not
the issue, OF course, but to show a
tyrant as the lewd, ill-mannered
swine that he actually was to slaves
of the present British ruling class
might hurt prestige" and reflect on
the MacDonalds, Baldwins, Simons
etc. Never!
n might interest you to know that
the native actors in Eskimo" were
paid S. q day and went out ON strike
for higher pay. Scabs were rounded
| uD and the Eskimo strikers were