International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jul-Dec 1929)

influence on childrens' morals. {Exhibitors' Herald World, Chicago 15/91). The Cheek Parliament has approved a decree absolutely prohibiting that literature intended for children should recount facts or fiction concerning crime, robbery, etc. Similar measures will be taken with respect to films, the revision of which will be entrusted to the Inspectors of Primary Education. (La Tarde, Bilbao, 15/97). In Valencia (Spain) a child of 13 committed a big theft under very romantic circumstances. He declared that the idea had been given him by watching a detective story film. (El Imparcial, Madrid, 15/99). Dr. Porzio, Who is well known for his studies on social medical questions, deplores the bad habit of taking quite young children to the cinema. He expresses the view that the law, which watches over the morals of young people aged under 16 years of age, ought for hygienic reasons to prohibit young infants from being taken to the cinema. (// Popolo di Roma, Rome 15/103). M. Aug. Nardy in an article on film censorship in France, expresses the view that it would be better to do away with it and to rely entirely on public opinion, as in the case of books and the theatre. (L'Oeuvre, Paris 18/159). M. Philippe Sarlat expresses the view that the French censorship is futile and advocates a radical reform thereof. (Comoedia, Paris 18/ 163). There are many difficulties in the way of the censorship of talking films. The Committee charged with the study of this question in England remarks that it is practically impossible to excise objectionable parts of dialogues, which must either be passed or prohibited as they stand. (The Daily Film Renter, London 18/191). The censorship of films has been functioning in Mexico since the 15th. September. The censor's office, which is attached to the Ministry of the Interior, will exercise its control over both imported films and films intended for export. (Comoedia, Paris 18/181). The Russian Censorship Commission has been directed to exercise great rigour in censoring imported films, especially American films, because these present life under an aspect that might stir up bourgeois sympathies and complicate the task of educators. (Le Courrier Cinetnatographique , Paris 18/182) The revenue of taxation on public spectacles during 1929 in Germany is estimated at about 85 million francs; more than half of this amount is derived from cinematographs. (Le Courtier Cinetnatographique , Paris 24/108) The British Colonial Office has directed a committee to be appointed to examine the present state of the agreements in force for the supply of films to the Colonies and Protectorates. (// Cinema Italiano , Rome 25/113). The question of Sunday entertainments continues to arouse a deal of controversy. The Rev. E. Cornford Bruce expresses the view that none of the precepts of religion are contrary to such entertainments. On his side, Mr. Gordon Pannell, declares that the returns of an enquiry made on this subject clearly demonstrate that there has been a marked diminution in the number of drunkards since the introduction of Sunday shows in England. (The Times, London 25/118). The German Government, recognizing the importance which the cinema has assumed as an instrument of political propaganda, has bought up most of the shares of the Emelka Cinematographic Trust. In so doing, it has apparently wished to avoid that the Emelka Topical Events section should be 715