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Overseas. 21
THE EMPIRE OVERSEAS.
Australia.
Notwithstanding the proximity of the war in the Pacific and the consequent heavy demands upon shipping space, a regular supply of films to Australia continues to be maintained. In the course of the year there were imported into the Commonwealth 1,485 standard films of all classes — scenic, topical, educational, medical, commercial and dramatic. This represents a decrease of 353 over the previous year and is chiefly accounted for by the fact that fewer films were received from the United States owing to (1) transport difficulties, (2) probable enemy action, and (3) other causes. For instance, during the first two months of the year practically no films at all arrived in Australia, and, although much of the shortage thus created was later overcome, the slight decline in American film production was naturally not without its effect on the Australian market.
Whilst the actual number of films imported has decreased, the problems of censorship have become more intricate and varied with the growing impact of wartime legislation. Of the 1,485 films examined, 392 were feature hims, made up as follows: 355 (or 90 per cent^) from U.S.A.; 34 (or 8.7 per cent.) from Great Britain ; and 3 (or .8 per cent.) from other countries. As a matter of interest, the origin of all films for the past four years, with percentages, is shown in the following table : —
All Films.
1939
1940
1941
1942
U.S. A
United Kingdom . . . Other countries
1,176 69.1 370 21.8 155 9.1
1,121 68.8 314 19.2 195 12.0
1,193 64.9 445 24.2 200 10.9
976 65.7 385 25.9 124 8.4
Totals
1,701
1,630
1,838
1,485
Of the 392 feature films dealt with by the Commonwealth Film Censor, 346 were passed without eliminations, 43 were passed with elimination, and three were finally rejected ; this represented a percentage of final rejections of .8, and is the lowest on record. The following comparisons are of interest :
Country of Origin.
Total Imported.
Passed with eliminations.
Finally rejected.
No.
Per cent.
No.
Per cent.
U.S.A. ...
355
30
8.4
3
.8
U.K
34
13
38.2
Other countries
3
Totals
392
43
3
The percentages of final rejections of feature films produced in Britain and America during the last five years were : U.S.A. 1.7 (1938), 2.5 (1939), 2.48 (1940), 1.4 (1941) and .8 (1942) ; U.K. 1.7 (1938), 1.3 (1939), 3.2 (1940), nil (1941) and nil (1942).
The decline in the import of sub-standard films into the Commonwealth is due solely to war conditions, particularly since the entry of Japan, as many films were received from the East and from people travelling from the United States. The export of films, particularly newsreels to the Eastern market, has likewise been affected since the latter areas are now under enemy control.