Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-12
u. S. Movies
Ruled Against
Maxi Honor
Germany Fears Films
May May Cause Discomfort
BY EDWIN c. HILL

- of the motion-picture de-
department Of the German min
istry of propaganda, f1r11s- tffat--
American films are of no help
whatever in building the new
order" in Europe.
In explaining why Germany
recently barred our pictures. IN
toto he puts their action on the
grounds of national honor"
In doing so. he uses quite a
lot Of expensive words, but, pre-
sumably, they ride on the cables
at-th e-sane -ralc-aS simple
little words. and they give a
specious semblance of scholarly
detachment to Herr Hipplers
outgiving.
His statement, however. is a
reminder that Germany has
modified its academic battal-
ions behind its assault on all
world culture WHICH doesH
happen to be Germanlc.
THE doctors and professors
l. Herr EIippler among them
have fallen into line with the
pSaltery and harp behind the
Reich'Ss tanks and bombers.
German propaganda touching on
the arts is literate as all get
out, but unhapplly, for Germany.
circumScribed by a short reach
OF understanding-by an obtuse-
ness. in fact, which has. left
Germany. in spite OF her great
Goethes. Schillcrs and LeSSings,
cultural alien in the family
Of nations.
one may cite an apparent
reiutation Of this in their eager
acceptance of Shakespeare and
their recent efforts 10 prove that
ShakeSnearesS4as- a German, But
what the Germans did to Shake
-S,peare haS-lnnG -S1lrred amaze
ment among scholars.
There Is that passage for in
stance. about sermons in stones
and tongues in running brooks
German tranSlatOrs were thrown
for a loss when they got to that.
They remodelcd il into some
thing which gives the general
idea that somebody was preach
ing a sermon about stones and
running brooks
Obviously 10 their, stones and
brooks do no preaching. SO II
was with many Of the moro
subtle of the Bard's deeper and
more poetic lines.
GERMAN culture has been de
VI fined as a culture Of the
head rather than of the heart,
which might eX pla n their
marvellous effectiveness m tech
nology and their callous and
ruthless use Of il. Bur. more
pertinent to today's world propa-
ganda battle. Herr Hippler says:
Whenever an American movie
turns to serious subjects. IL does
so in highly critical manner
Obviously this free play %
criticism. the breath OF life TO Us.
rs pulling and dangerous TO the
German concept OF life and Soci-
ETY. particularly in the Germany
OF today.
one would think Il would 10
SportSmanllkc 10 give MS 4 t7aHd
for this Sclf-criticlsm. but 10
Herr Hippler we are merely foul
ing our own nest. Certainly tho
new order viii allow no such
frank appraisal of its achieve
mentS. when and if IL hits its
stride throughout the world.
Herr Hipplcr is perhaps all
too revealing in his statement,
We aren't quite clear about this
national honor which he finds
aSsailed by our movies. but II is
quite clear that the peoples leg
IRONS might begin 10 chafe If
they saw enough Of the Ameri-
can free-for-all as portrayed by
our movies.
OVEN Our news reel would be
- bad medicine for the new
order doctors to admit.
We recall a recent shot Of the
grounds OF one of our big de-
tense industries in PENNSYLVANIA.
where tt seemed that literally
thousands of workingmen's cars
had been parked. We remember
another take OF a swarm Of
amazingly pretty and we'll
dressed office girls romping out
Of "A New York skysCraper for
their lunch hour.
And there comes 10 mind
detail Of dramatic episode in
which big. bucko truck driver
was stepping into a thick sirloin
steak, with all the routine ac-
cessories and trimmings. That
would no doubt be cultural
distortion TO Herr Hippler. and
perhaps inimical to German ma
tional honor" but the fact is
that II can happen here.
And. again. when Herr Hip
pier seyS they are banning
American films because Of the
necessity Of political self-de-
Tense. he is no doubt wrfi-ari-
ViSed.
Possibly moro effective than
guns against the new order"
would be a steady drum-fire of
American pictures howinC