The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Sep-Oct 1922)

CTE ST TMM EET LONDON Phone: Regent, 1468-9. ‘Telegraphic AdJress: U NUNDOOLOSUDNOGDEOHISOTEONDOD)SUONOGOERENUONENUTTONUONEOLOEUCULAGONUEtENUaGaADeaDeQsemMOStongecganerHuuEanenEanUaneHeCueGORNeDcCEHEOQUSGOGOONONNLADaNeEDOGuusn: cuvua eecovuantaceadnonneaNennentgnensagesdenunsenvanonsneccunennensenenndenitt= The Film Renter and _. Bl Picture N ews TG ! l “Wrightdds, Piccy, eiclan MANCHESTER Phone: Central, 5987. _ ti VEDUUSLOAATARDGAAOUEN EAE TL TT “No. 468. SATURDAY, , OCTOBER 2 28, 1922. Keep oo N view of the possibility of a general eleetion heiig “upon us at any moment now, a word of warning to ‘kinema exhibitors will not be out of place. | Signs are not wanting that many candidates for election will attempt to make use of the screen to help their chances of being returned as a member. That is one danger which can easily be dealt with, but the greater danger is that of exhibiters attempting to bring their own polities into their kinemas. This latter is a very real menace, and the CLELA.’s leaders would be very well advised to point out to their members the folly of allowing trade polities to enter the theatre. The kinema is a place for entertainment. People go thrilled, but not bored. Fach and every member of the audience may hold different there to be interested, amused, political opinions, but they don't go to the kinema to listen to any dissertation on the ability of a particular gentleman who may be standing us candidate for their constituency. There is a time and place for that, and it Exhibitors genertheir does not embrace the kinema theatre. ally are wise enough to know that if they allow screens to be used for eleetioncering purposes they more likely to give offence toa greater number of people, at the same time only pleasing a bare minority. The greater menace to the trade is the one which we have outlined above, of the exhibitor himself attempting to introduce polities into his theatre for the alleviation of any particular hardship that he may be suffering from. To this end we think it will be very regrettable if the threatened scheme which certain leaders of the tax agitation have in mind, viz., the extraction of pledges We do not want are from candidates, is put into operation.., the sereen used for announcements that such and such a particular candidate is in favour of the removal of the tax, The mere showing of such a slide is likely to cause a great Google Politics. deal of resentment because it shows emphatically that the exhibitor wishes to have the man favouring his cause returned as a member, and it is in effeet a direct move on the part of the exhibitor to inflict his politieal views on his audience, _ It does They should be kept The exhibitor to-day should know no polities. not matter what his own views are. entirely to himself and he should remember that his audience is composed of Conservative, Liberal and Labour alike. It is not his business to thrust his polities down The removal of the tax will also play a very small part in the their throats, and they do not come for that purpose. so don’t let us have any false idens It will if the agitation takes the form of attempting to coerce candi forthcoming election, on that subject. indeed be regrettable dates, and particularly if the threat of the sereens is used. Lord Riddell, in his speech at the Twenty Club the other night, very sensibly averred that the kinema had no place in polities and that its gree at value to the community was © the magnificent entertainment. it offered to the Mmuasses, Don’t let us forget this very essential -point. Keep the screens clear of politics.” It is better not to allow anything in the shape of political propaganda, and emphatically it will be very unwise if announcements are thrown.on the sercens suggesting that the pesple should vote for a certain candidate merely because he is in favour cf the removal of the tax. Remember that at election time a candidate will promise anything, so there is very Httle: value tobe So often one We do placed upon any of his so-cilled: pledges. hears the threat of the ‘use of the sereens, know that we have a mighty weapon, but -be careful how Entertainment is the ‘true funetion of theExhibitors, keep this well in vour mind and keep it is’ used, kinema. polities out of the theatre.