To the Editor of the "Nowri-CutNa DAwwY New Gin have not seen the picture "All Quiet on the Western Front." 1 do not intend to see it for the simple reason that T have read the: Book from which the picture was} produced. I did pot begrudge the few hours spent in reading the book nor fee! that in this day of intensive advertising it had been seriously] overrated. Its wide eireulatiog in Europe and America, may serve in some measure to disillusion the very' young of this and future generations on the glamour of warfare, which seems sufficient justification for its existence. But I saw nothing in it, the talking picture portrayal of which would serve as entertainment, unless entertainment from spending a fow hours in a beggar} colony or reviewing the gruesome ravages of a Chinese bandit rai If the showing of this picture wore restricted to Europe _and America I might, feel inclined to} agree with "Ann 'T, Prudery" that} 'a. most attractive feature was. the scene deleted by the Shanghai Censors, In fact in the book I regarded]
something in the nature of an oasis in a desert of depression. But as a picture to be displayed for the edification of our Shanghai picture-going public, the scene re-"Int reasonably be re-gertied in an entirely different light, "Ann 'T. Prudery" probably considered it in the light of entertain ment for her- (or him-) self. It is refreshing to presume that a mani with the authority of the Prench Consul-General may have considered the reaction of the public before! Jwhich it was to be displayed.
To the producers, the motion picture or talkie is a great dividend providing business. It seems extremely improbable that they are lever influenced by any other consideration, but to a great horde of [people all over the world they serve not only og entertainment but as Jo source of education. I understand that there has been a board. of eensorship functioning in Shanghai for some time, but, judging by many lof the pictures shown here, which, like the modern women's. bathing! suit, leave nothing to the imagis tion' that would enhance the artistic Jeffect, I aim afraid that they are Jgoverned in their censorship by the reactions of themselves and others fof equal intellectual development.
Especially in view of the rather! [precarious position of the foreigner jin China to-day a little more con-[sideration might be given to the fact that there are a few million people in China of the class of house servants, ete, actual and potential bandits, whose conception lof a foreign woman is largely governed by thei To the French Consul General: my respects,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.