Evening star. [volume], April 03, 1949, Page 11, Image 110

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
— they are devastating because they tell the truth "
Then lie added "My daughter saw her first American
him the other day \Slsen she came home, she said. '!
like Americans they laugh at themselves ’ And my
who is not an impressionable woman says
American movies are the greatest propaganda in the
world rhey seize your eyes, your ears, and your
iieart, all at once.- ”
.Although Mr Jolinston declares "we are waging
psychological welfare, not warfare," Hollywood is
placing a lead role in the ceaseless, bitter battle of
ideologies in a noteworthy example of co-operation
between government and private industry
A picked stall from the Motion Picture Kxport
Association headed by General Manager Irving A.
Maas, reviews films before sending them to the Army’s
Civil Affairs Division, which again scans them for
episodes which might deprecate the United States,
create an unfavorable picture of life in America or
stray from broad policy directives The Army retains
the right to w ithdraw. delete, or veto films.
Holly wood exercises much of the censorship itself,
however. The industry didn’t even offer "The Killers”
for export to Germany, knowing the film’s emphasis
on gangster brutality ruled it out.
No Moro Hilarious Millionaires
So far. the only him sent to Berlin that caused any
trouble was the British production, "Oliver Twist,"
whose alleged anti-Semitism caused a riot and sup
plied grist for the Communist propaganda mill.
In brief, the prewar portrayal of life in America
everybody a millionaire living hilariously in homes
usually consisting of a tiled bath surrounded by many
rooms is out. definitely.
Ilow we are -feeding Germans and
Japanette tlieir diet of movie fare can be seen in
a partial list of withdrawn, deleted, and with
held films. The quoted remarks come from the
office of Brig. Gen. Robert A. McClure, until recently
chief of the New York Field Office. Civil Affairs
Division.
Among the films withdrawn after brief runs are:
"30 Seconds Over Tokyo.” "The Germans took
tcxi much delight in seeing other people get shellacked.”
"This Land Is Mine." "It tended to remind the
Germans of their triumphant days during the Nazi
occupation of France.”
"Back Street. "“Reflected on American married life."
"Maltese Falcon." "Too much blood and thunder."
"Twin Beds.” "Overdrawn picture of life in
America.”
"Watch On the Rhine.” "Many Germans still look
on those who fought Hitler as traitors.”
For the present at least, the Army regards as "too
early or too late” such films as “Ox-Bow Incident,"
“Gentleman’s Agreement,” and "The Life of Emile
Zola,” and is \yithholding "The Iron Curtain” be
cause it is "too exaggerated, too overdrawn."
Tickling the Germans Pink
“Ninotchka.” a movie kidding Communism, was
brought out of retirement, however, when the Army
started its outright propaganda campaign against the
Cominform. According to an industry spokesman
recently back from Berlin, the film “is tickling the
Germans pink. Or should I say silly.”
Taboos for movie distribution in Japan are fewer.
“Mark of Zorro” is drawing well, but the Array
regrets its showing because the wealth of sword
play in the film ties in too closely with Jupanese
war ideology. Movies with strong religious themes,
such as “Going My Way” and “Bells of St. Mary’s.”
are packing movie houses, although there are only
about 300.000 Christians in Japan. For her perform
ance in the latter picture and others, Ingrid Bergman
last year won Japan’s "Oscar.” a Hakata doll.
Horse operas are welcomed w ildly by the Japanese,
but the Koreans prefer the comparatively dull shorts
produced by the U. S. State Department. Gangster
films are banned from all U. S. occupation zones.
Throughout the world, and particularly in Germany
and Japan. “The Best Years of Our Lives.” the
Academy Award winner of independent producer
Samuel Goldw vn. draws praise from critics and movie
goers. Presumably, the peoples of war-tom countries.
Continued on page 26
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