The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

May 19, 1923. | Causerte | Topic. Sir Charles Higham and Ourselves. IR CHARLES HIGHAM is, and has been for such a long time the good friend of the British kinematograph industry, both within and without the House of Commons, and has done such good service in the United States in presenting the point of view of the trade in Britain, that it is with a real regret that we find we have pained him by our possibly vigorous attack upon him in the last issue. Sir Charles himself is no mean fighter, und he is not averse from dealing his opponents doughty blows; thus in endeavouring to counter and overweigh his vigorous attack upon a policy with which the Frum Renter had associated itself, it is possible that more force was put into our defending strokes than the occasion demanded, Knowing Sir Charles, as we do, and the good fellowship for which he is noted, we are sure that his pain at having been accused of a lack of good taste will be sulved by the assurance that no bitterness lay behind our utterance. It is the custom of the ‘' ring ”’ to grip hands at the close of a contest as a pledge of goodwill, und there is no one associated with the trade whose handshuke is more hearty and whose disposition more forgiving than his. Unwarranted Interpretation. ONSCIOUS that we had made the payment of high salaries to American stars a question of great importance, it was perhaps only natural that Sir Charles's aceusation of carping criticism was taken as particularly applying to this Journal. We are happy to know from Sir Charles Higham’s own lips that this interpretation wis unwarranted, and look forward to a continuance of the friendly interest in the From Renter which has been manifested by him in the past. Honour to Film Censor. HE. President of the Board of Film Censors has been very much in the public eye during the last few days, for on Tuesday night a very handsome snuff bax was presented to him on behalf of the members of the House of Commons, ag a souvenir of the affection and esteem in which he is held by his confréres in the house. Mr. O'Connor also lind some bright things to say at a meeting of the Faculty of Arts, last Saturday, when, spenking on the art of the film and the censorship he said: As to the censorship. he thought that objection was stronver against State censorship than against trade censorship. Tf there was State censorship there would be a erent deal of political interference. and he was afraid it would not be either impartin] or satisfactory. The cinema was only at its beginnings, and in his view every eleinentary school in the country ought to have a cinema theatre attached. Tt was an industry that ought to he encouraged, as it was doing a most useful work. THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. 5 C.E.A. Loyal to Mr. O’Connor. E spoke of the whole-hearted support which the H C.E.A. gave to himself and his board of examiners, and the loyalty with which his decisions were accepted. They would permit no violation, and if an exhibitor showed a film which did not possess the certificate of the Censor he, ipso facto, became liable to condemnation and even expulsion from the C.E.A. His decisions, he was glad to say, were almost invariably accepted without complaint or the exhibition of any pique. He could safely assert that practically he had never had any trouble, and even where tens of thousands of pounds were involved in a picture there had been no desire to thwart his wishes for alteration and amendmen:. :ilthough « big strain might be put upon the loyalty of a C.E.A, member. A Storm in a Teacup. ‘ies glad to see that the storm in a teacup over the question of expenses to Scottish delegates has entirely blown over. The action of the General Council in allowing expenses for both delegates from Scotland on a first-cluss s:ale immediately removed ull the objections, and Mr. A. B. King at the last Council meeting, took the first opportunity of handsuinely acknowledging all that had been done. At the same time it seems rather regrettable that there should be talk of seceding over such a trifling matter, and it is te be hoped that in future Scotland will not get quite so huffy over a small matter that could be adjusted in a very few minutes. The Hampshire Ball. HE Hampshire und Isle of Wight Branch of the C.E.A. ure to be congratulated upon the excellent results of their recent Carnival Ball, for in a letter I have received from their secretary I see that after payment of the necessury expenses the sum of £115 12s. 8d. has been handed to the Royal South Hants and Southampton Hospital Authorities. This is an eminently satisfactory result, and the highest praise is due to Mr. Hood, Mr. Mitchener, and his co-workers for the splendid work they put in to make this ball the sound success it has been. Another Rise for Noel Rhys. ONGRATULATIONS to Mr. Noel Rhys, who has just. been appointed General Munager of the Majestic, Leeds. This appointment has, I under stund, been made possible through the courtesy of Mr. Walter Wanger, who had a prior claim on Mr. Rhys’s services, and I am very interested to hear that Mr. Rhys will take up his duties immediately. This brilliant young munager has, since his entry into the film industry a short three years ago, succeeded in inaking a name for himself. It will be remembered that his first experience in the film trade was through the medium of this Journal, to which he was attached. In those days his shrewd foresight and keen perception marked him out for instant promotion, and his later work in the publicity department with Goldwyn’s attracted the attention of Mr. Wanger, whose assistant he became. Later on Mr. Wanger leaving the Regent, Brighton, Mr. Rhys took over the exploitation for this theatre, and the general management of the Majestic, Leeds, is an outcome of the fine work he put in at Brighton. In selecting this clever young man for such an onerous position the directorate of the Majestic have made x very wise choice, and his ultimate career will be watched with intense interest.