An Article Criticized Ir" the Salter of the "'Noru-cunta Dany News"
Sm—The film censorship, for a Jong time already, had become the serest point in the municipal administration of this Settlement wrongly called "model." At one time the public reaction to the firns exhibited hhere found its expression in numerous protests to the press. They have ceased to appear afterwards, their authors having probably understood the futility of their efforts. 'Therefore great surprise mixed up with, indignation has been caused by "the statements contained in the article published in your today's issue under the caption" "Film Censorship Tu Shanghai Is No Easy Task." Each and every statement' in this article fare in grant contradiction with the truth and facts. Let us see these statements and the actual facts It Police Censors consider a_film ynsullable for juveniles, they advise the" exhibitors accordingly and "their wisness In this respect sre invariably obeyed.
One of the theatres actually shows the film in which, under the pretext of the "Bathing Suits Fashion Show, half-naked women are exhibited. The producers even do not pretend to show the suits, but direct their camera to the naked parts of the woman. If "the wishes of the censors are invariably obeyed," as stated above, the obvious conclusion is that the censors are incompetent and do not know their job. Further, the article in question, which bears all marks of having been inspired by the censors themselves, proceeds depleted, "or in which crime is, die-Blayed in an''atlurin ght in® com arson "with: a ienitimate profession occupation, This is what ought to be, but not what is actually taking place in every theatre in Shanghai every day of each year. And this is stated at a time when half of the film pictures are devoted to the glorification of the crime. Go and see the film, which actually is being exhibited at one of the theatres. Is not there a hero for whose head the government promised reward of $10,000 and who finally triumphs over the administration, Pursuing, "legitimate professional occupation?" And what about using of fire-arms, killing, ete-? Do the censor Bretend "that they prohibit' these pictures?
Furthermore we learn, that the solicitude of the censors to the public foes so for that susceptibilities of any: nationes are' helm' conatdered and' the' scenes IMiich fe Tntended te foment socsh Yes, "must be": But are they? Have not we seen dozens of pictures showing religious ceremonies, often sive to religious feeling of the public? Or what about so-called "historical" Alms, "which practically all" area bolshevik propaganda? aer and those pictures of ebseetions <.eruelty or dleplay of tnnman ihe' police Ins Tale Or devoes fre hover allowed tess.
Well, what about numerous Aims depicting revolutionary uprisings with inevitable scenes of executions ele? Have not we seen quite ree cently "Marie A "oinette" with revolting, scenes of executions, "prison scenes," the play which called forth sharp criticism of the French The whole article in question gives the impression that the censors have copied their instructions "and. pubs lished them, taking for granted that the public would believe they are carried out punctually.
Personally T am surprised to learn that the ims are censored by the police only, the Board of Censors ering only' when parties. interested appeal to it. But as all "wishes of the censors are invariably obeyed" by the producers, as. stated in' the article, there is obviously no chance left for the Board to express its opinion, because of happy' harmony existing between' the censors and producers.
However happy this state of affairs might be, the majority of pul opinion would like active and more effective participa tion of the Board in the censorship, which should be handed over persons with better qualifications for Tum. Shanghai, Jan. 4
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.