Evening star., 1936-08-16

be forgiven-Mr. Adolphe's amusing
but willy-nilly criticism Of the screen
as medium "undisciplined by common
PERSONS frequently cast by many an
Intellectually respected friend. These
people are wont to say. with some
pride and a slightly superior glance
down the bridge of the nose, "I
really never 60 to pictures, except
when Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
are in town, or the Four Marx Broth
crs make new one"
The implication of that thrust, Of
course, Is that 1T would be banal for
an intelligent person to waste time at
one of the cinema's more serious ef-
forts. Either films must be light and
cay, or too preposterous to be men
toned.
Having bothered to cross-eXamine
few of these scornful souls on their
experiences in the movie palaces, We
find that none of them knows very
much about the serious pictures. They
have grown up with the idea that all
~alluloid was either funny or shock
ngly stupid, acquainted themselves
18th only the former brand when pos"
ible. and consequently been COM
rletely unaware of Hollywood's COM
.ng of age.
IT Is widely recognized that a film
i must be presented within certain
mutations, no matter how profound
message or how much it might gain
stepping into the freer atmosphere
our modern stage. The first re-
.riction is imposed by the enormous
est of making motion pictures. They
must be designed to return that cost,
nd therefore must compromise with
he taste of the greatest number OF
Tcrsons. (And, by the way, you don't
catch any Broadway producers invest
ing 100000 to S2,o0O,O0O in problem
drama. Even when risking the first
figure. they protect themselves with a
eure-fire affair like Anything Goes"
- The Great Waltz" something that
i'll tickle the palate of hordes Of
aople)
AS a matter of public policy-can it
economic, artistic, political, whatever
you like-the cinema cannot afford to
speak too bluntly on topics of religion,
party politics and social theory affect
ing government. There is no profit in
it. either financially, for the audiences
who are agitated by such films and
then left without further guidance.
Nor Is there for the most sincere
writer's, directors and actors, who are
interested in promoting drama. not
celestial, political or social philoso-
phies.
Thus it must be admitted that
Hollywood is forced into a neutral
corner on many vital issues of the
times. but this does not presuppose
that it is therefore impossible to pro-
duce sensible, stimulating, even in
spring films. A man does not have
to be violent Republican, Democrat
or Socialist in order to make a pic
ture revealing the evils of official cor
ruption. He does not have to chal-
lenge the race issue in order to fling
forth a violent diatribe against lynch
ing and mob law. He need not be a
jurist. full to the brim with legal and
sociological theories, in order to show
that weak or dishonest judicial sys-
tenn can wreck lives and destroy the
State, while the integrity of judges
can be the bulwark of morale in
community.
EXAMINE a few recent samples
shipped out by Hollywood. The
Informer" boasted SO much artistic
integrity many a member of the Il
Werna- be- amused" cult had to be
showed through the theater doorway.
Once inside, they liked it, and was
anything lost by not emphasizing the
fact that Gyppo (McLaglen) was tied
up with bunch of boys who were re-
yolting against English control in
Ireland?
Fury" did not touch on very in
flammable issue often involved in
lynchings, yet it was a powerful in
tictment Of mob law, a magnificent
Isudy Of mass psychology and a
;hrewd revelation of the fact that
rcoQle who commit brutalities of this
gort wreak the vengeance of shame
On their own souls. This particular
tim had a sappy ending-running
bout eco feet of film-tacked on it
IS sop to the convention of the fade
cut embrace. But what had that to
90 with the essence of the picture?
The director doubtless tossed it in as
& gesture of derision.
These Three" formerly the Law
i-hly praised The Children's Hour"
tf the stage, tackled around to avoid
q taboo subject when it came to the
screen, but lost none of it's basic
force as picture of the grim horrors
that can result from idle gossip and
lies and the actions of people who
too easily believe evil of one another.
There you have three random ex-
fmples of the cinema in serious mood.
It surprised us to discover how many
CT the motion pictures enthusiastic
detractors had not seen that trio, or
more than a neglible percentage of
another dozen mentioned to them.
Therefore We urge those who are
proud of being well informed and keen
IN their judgments on all matters to
acquaint themselves more literally
with filmland's best offerings before
condemning the whole part and
parcel, to make due allowance for
the sincerity Of many attempts to
give intelligent expression to ideas
and dramatic values within certain
confines, and to remember that even
the program pictures sometimes have
good taste and humor on their side.