Film and TV Technician (1957)

74 FILM & TV TECHNICIAN May 1957 TALKING POINTS A Bomb • Third Programme • Entertainment Tax /^OMING events, they say, cast ^J their shadows before them, and with a jolt I realised the deep truth of this corny old saying, when I was privileged to go to a special showing of a most moving new documentary film that has just been re-edited over here. The picture comes from far-away Japan, but there is nothing quaintly oriental about it, for it shows in ordinary human terms, understandable to any nationality, exactly what are the effects today of the atomic bomb that fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki nearly twelve years ago. No Bitterness The makers of this film do not dwell on the past, and, believe-itor-not, they show no bitterness against those who dropped those terrible bombs. The effects of radiation from these bombs and from the Bikini H-bomb test of 1955 are still today killing people in Japan, but this shadow on the bright face of the inhabitants is shown by the film to be a warning against the hydrogen bomb tests that the great nations are still continuing. The film's title is The Shadow of Hiroshima. A.C.T.T. put down a resolution on the subject of H-bombs and the genetic effects of the tests for the Women's T.U.C. at Hastings, and when our delegate Mrs. E. J. Wallis told the conference that the Women's Advisory Committee had ruled it out of order, there were some angry clashes with the platform. In a way the Advisory Committee was right in saying that the conference could only deal with women's problems — the Hbomb tests concern men, women and, most particularly, children — but their " Out of Order " decree seems most bureaucratic. If The Shadow of Hiroshima had been shown to them first, I am sure they would have realised the importance of everyone freely discussing the problem, for this 22minute film is of enormous assistance in graphically bringing home the truth of the hazards to the world of nuclear tests. I wish those abusive people who think it clever to call intellectuals names would make up their minds. One moment intellectuals are referred to as " the long-haired boys ", and then their critics go to the other extreme and call them "egg-heads"! This silly talk is really nothing more than envy, and it By Cadmus" its inverted snobbery always strikes me as especially vulgar when relatively intelligent people are dismissed as " Third Programme types ". Perhaps it is part of the British habit of running down the things that foreigners admire most about us. I have often noticed how friends from America have gone into rhapsodies over our BBC Third Programme, now so sadly curbed by Sir Ian Jacob on grounds of economy. ("It might mean small reductions in staff ", added Sir Ian). Despite some irritatingly pretentious material on occasions, the Third has pioneered remarkably enlightened programmes, as well as catering for the ever-growing public that enjoys serious concerts and operas, and does not want them packaged in half-hour periods. Deserved Wider Audience Many of the experiments on the Third that have deserved a wider audience have been " promoted " to the Home or Light for repeats, which is, surely, a high tribute. Those who were so vociferous in demanding commercial TV as an alterative programme to BBC television have been strangely silent during the controversy over the Third; but, really, the same principle of giving the public as much choice of listening as possible applies; restricting the Third to the awkward hours of 8 to 11 p.m. prevents so many people enjoying it when they want to, for the question of choice is the important one. For a great and progressive people with ambitions to go forward it is not enough that the Third programme should only be allotted three hours a day, while the Light and Home together get ten times as much. I have left to the last the aspect that affects us most directly as a Trade Union. If economies are the order of the day, not only are regular employees of the BBC threatened, but also those longsuffering free-lance members like writers, who scrape a living in the media of radio, television and film, will find it even more difficult. I'm all for changes at the BBC, but this one is retrogressive and ought itself to be changed. Predictions Correct The only thing that pleased me about the Budget was that the predictions I made in February proved correct. I wrote then that the Government would not be very generous to the cinemas and suggested that " cinema Entertainment Tax may be slightly reduced, but, to make up for this, there will be some form of tax on television." Last month the Chancellor of the Exchequer cut cinema duties by £6,500,000 (the industry asked for a £21,000.000 cut), and increased the combined radio and TV licences from £3 to £4, which would net an extra £8,000,000 in a full year. The total abolition of Entertainment Tax on the live theatre and sport only serves to emphasise the iniquity of the remaining Tax on cinema tickets. The Federation of Theatre Unions can feel pleased with their campaigning over the Tax on the live theatre, and their success should spur us on to combine with the other film Unions now in preparing for the next Budget. SHOW THAT YOU BELONG A.C.T.T. badges and brooches can be obtained from Head Office. Badges 2/-, brooches 2/4, post free.