The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-09-15
with CHARLES MANN

Hollywood, Washington and New
York can't seem to get together on
the simple word escape" -. At
the start of the war, Washington,
the referee Of the other two cities,
wanted to make the bed in which
the public lies as soft as possible
by withholding horrifying news. 1t
soon learned that by withholding
such news, 1t was being an accom-
plice to the Nazi propaganda that
the DemocracieS are decandent. It
was helping Americans to escape
from learning the terrible truths,
when 1t should have dis
played the bloody eXtravaganceS in
all their terrifying grandeur.
However, Washington contains
its progressive elements. The Owl
soon realized that the Americans
must know what's what If they're
going to contribute periodically and
Voluntarily to the war effort on the
home front. 1t soon decided that
the public had to be informed but
that st must have another source
through which to make this rev.
elation. Solution to the problem was
quite naturally directed at radio on
one side and films on the other.
Through these resources it began to
impress upon the minds of the the
atrically-minded public what was
going on in the world.
Hollywood deluged the market
with one type Of film - the film
that depicted the NaZi aggreSSor,
the Nazi rapist, the NaA crucifier.
And every film production company
followed suit without any resource
fitness or originality.
Radio wasn't any better Schooled.
It carbon-copied the film technique
but to q more restricted degree.
What Hollywood failed to describe
in words, 1t produced in pictures.
Where words failed radio, the sub
iect became taboo.
The market became so over-sup-
Piled with obvious propaganda, the
American public was forced to cry
escape! It wasn't that Americans
were being unpatriotic. Nor did
Americans want to hide from the
realities Of this great war. 1t SIM
ply wanted change In the Movie
Radio menu.
Radio soon realized that its
medium was restricted In entertain
me1t values, therefore regained its's
original composure. 1t has since
developed balanced diet consist
ing Of various programs that pro-
dCce good comedy and propaganda
respectively.
Hollywood, on the other hand,
went to the other extreme of pro-
ducing musical eXtravaganZas until
the American public again cried
'escare"-escape from the too sac
charinely embellished productions
that cloyed the customers. Needless
to say, Hollywood lost a great deal
fof money and wasted :. great deal
4 Of talent in these two types of
movies in trying to keep the Ameri-
can public In what 1t considered a
state Of escape.
The city of warmth and sweater
girls has suddenly awakened to
the fact that the public wants a
true story told effectively and with
restraint. Hollywood has taken its
tirst step in that direction with
the magnificent production of
watch On the Rhine" a fine drama
am the pen of Lillian Hellman.
- public is seeing this film as If
S we're embarking on a new venture.
S2e picture is full of propaganda
hut it's so subtly handled that
Eou find escape during your hour
and half in the theatre.
Escape? Anything that diverts
the public's attention from its daily
gripes and ordeals is escape. The
foregoing proved just that. The
public griped because it lacked
balanced diet in show farce. g. the
ordeal was too prolonged. From that
II sought escape.
Well, talking about something
different, Broadway embarked on
its career Of escapist productions.
During this past summer it pro-