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We print below an extract from a private letter from Berlin as we think it will be of interest to our readers :
The general film situation in Germany is more interesting than ever. The government's decided move to the right has strengthened the opposition and a great struggle is bound to come. Of course this present moment is not encouraging, for the actual power of censorship is with the government, but the restrictions are so stupid that they cannot last indefinitely. Artists have been forced to band together and unite for defence. Some who have been unwilling previously to work except alone are now anxious to co-operate with fellow workers rather with commercial firms.
From a commercial point of view things are disastrous. Many big companies have failed. Those which have survived have managed matters very cleverly. They have done nothing without a purpose and that purpose is easily discerned. Three years ago films were made, apparently of a free and democratic tendency but always one scene was included to keep pre-war feelings alive. They rejected problematical and serious pictures entirely from their programmes, under the pretext that a suffering people needed to be cheered up and amused. In this way people were not allowed to reflect or face the actual situation. Historical films were produced, often in themselves excellently made (and this is the most dangerous!) but with the historical truth spoiled or distorted. Students can judge the truth of history text books but simple people are convinced by good acting that anything they see on the screen is true. They go home and swear by what they have seen : their historical heroes may have been doing dreadful and incredible things but because they have seen them, they will never be forgotten. Besides this, a great deal of " sugar " is produced, to poison the world with a false type of happiness.
Last summer changes were announced. A sort of Hays programme was published in which it was stated that when things were better in Germany ( !) they might dare to show more serious matters. At present the masses must be encouraged, so stories must concern young and intelligent and poor but virtuous people, who struggle with luck against enormous difficulties to win through to a happy end ! In order to achieve successful results, when a scenario is prepared it is sent round to all provincial film agencies and theatre owners for criticism and each remark these enlightened people make is then discussed, until at last the scenario is so altered no one makes objection any more. Of course this method checks all development.
The only obvious move which may be noted is that nationalistic tendencies are shown without a mask.
Equally openly has war been declared against art and individuality, as enemies of commercial success. One film director whose pictures have been shown over Europe, was rejected with the admission that though these films were excellent, they could not " be cleaned from the reproach of being artistic." And at the moment it is impossible to show art. Good actors are tried perhaps once. Should their films, by reason of the