Curious Vagaries the Editor of the fount-Cumwa Dany News"
Sim,—The ruthless culting by the /Chinese censors at Nanking of Rone [Clair's latest plelure, "The Ghost Goes West." hes no doubt caused genuine Aisappaintment amongst the many Mim-goers who are admirers of his art; this. particularly. so. when the butler ridiculousness of the objection realized.
In the first place, if it is supersti tion so-called that they are objecting, to, why pick on foreign pictures? 'The writer' reads Chinese and. certainly superstition they are looking for. they will find it, and abundantly, In their own literature, their folklore. Jand above all, in their classic plays, One need not brave the odours the "theatre district" of Shanghai to Jsee a good example of this, On Bubbling Well Road ttsolt we find bulge poster for a local play showing a pig-headed human resting after battle, And, Sir, if this is not puta "superstition," what Is? Why don't tthe censors object to this? Why take exception to Bottoms ass's head? There certainly seems to be something very funny about this whole Jeensor business. Neither do I feel it wholly indigenous: 'The realities of the psychic, as I'have more than well-known. throughout this country, and far from' being "shocked, stunned and horrified" by the phenomena, the rational Chinese treats the matter with practical com-Jmon senso. It would seem, however, that this orgy of banning and tabooing finds lls origin exotically among type of people who are yet superstitious enough {0 believe that by stopping the exposition of natural phenomena it might be prevented from existing. No doubt it was a very similar sentiment that prompted the devout ecclesiastics of the 14th century to burn at the stake te Mald of Orleans that "superstition" might ye "discouraged" and "enlightenment" brought into the world.
'But this is no matter to be treated Ughtly. If, under the plea of superstition, pictures of the typo of "The Ghost' Goes West" are either banned outright or. else hopelessly hashed.up as to make little oF what going to happen to' some' of the best-known of Shakespeare's works when they are filmized, os latest advices from Hollywood state 1s being gontempleted? What of Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth or 'Tempest? No doubt we' will sec a skeleton of thom—if we caro to see them at all, just as we saw a skeleton of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." making that, beautiful picture from what tt originally was into something very much of a m{dwinter's nightmare.
The main point at issue is. this, How long are the motion picture isteibutors willing to tolerate. this miserable state of affairs? Statistics show there are not more than 80 cinemas where foreign pictures may be shown in the whole of China, compared to some 4,000 in France, or 1,200 in Japan. Yet, compared to the huge commercial value' of these two countries fo the film trade, the fees charged in this country for Imported films are tve times those for native productions, Now, may coupled with all the woes of censor: ship, why this added discrimination?
This entire. matter deserves the most serious attention not only of ths Film Board of Trade, byt also of the commercial avid diplomatic repre sentatives of the USA. in this country, seeing that 98 per cent, nf the foreign pictures shown Rere are of American origin, I would further add it is about time the flm-roers of Shanghai doveloped a bit of a spine in their backs and stood up for action of some kind. Among others. we have yet to see "ON for the Lamps of China Painted Veil," "Shanghai." "She" and "Dracula's Daughter." Since the banning of "Dracula" some. years ago sot the precedent the Shanghai public have been robbed of many a fine pleture, spooky or otherwise, either' on the grounds of superstition or gentlment, Once again. however, T would ike to question, speaking from the purely Tegal standpoint. wherein lies the [protection afforded by extraterritorial Fights? Wherein lies. the authority of these foreign-controlled Scltle~ ments? The five distributing theatres of Shanghai are American owned, and where the Court of Consuls holds power, why should the dictums of a foreign authority be deemed relovant? Are the Canidrome, Auditorium or 18S. operating under Chinese aw? T don't think If, however, there be no chance of Jany' betterment of the film situation this country. may T suggest to the distributors that they withald importation of such pictures as may be [shown in' civilized parts of "the world, but are deemed unsuitable for exhibition here? It would certainly save them trouble, expense and worry, besides sparing the poor flm-goer the misfortune of honestly pay-{ng to see a whole picture but coming. away having seen only half of it. Regutan Fie Goes, Shanghai, June 25-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.