The Film Society

Christmas was spent in Colombo, and was followed by passages to Fremantle (arrived 6th February) in ballast, and to Bombay (arrived 24th February) with wheat. The ship then proceeded back to Australia, having been engaged on a six months' time charter by a New Zealand firm. After dry-docking at Sydney, she proceeded to Newcastle, N.S.W., arriving there on 6th April, and that is the latest news at the time of writing. It seems likely that until October or thereabouts she will be engaged in those waters serving New Zealand's needs in bulk imports such as sugar, coal and wheat.

Deanna Durbin's "That Certain Age" came nowhere near the standard of "A Hundred Men and a Girl"—which was one of the first films the Society showed. The story was weak and a little absurd. No opportunities were lost when it came to singing, however ! Even so, if it was taken in the right spirit it was quite enjoyable.

Close your eyes for a moment, and then open them again. And there you were, back in the gay 1920's. On the screen, Charlie Chaplin with his vivacious antics; below the screen, a hard-working pianist, extemporising; in the hall a continuous uproar of laughter. "The Shopwalker' and "Easy Street" were the films shown. The speed of the story-telling, without dialogue and with the minimum of captions, conciseness, and absolute economy of expression impressed everyone, while Mr. Wick's interpretation of the cinema pianist was most authentic. "The Lost World", during which Mr. Waine was pianist, interested everybody, especially in its portrayal of the brontosaurus and the pterodactyl. This film dispelled all ideas about silent films being crude or gauche.

In the next programme a number of miscellaneous films were shown. Three French films on rock climbing, ski-ing and cave exploration failed to hold the interest. Except for the first—in which there were some excellent shots of mountain scenery—these films lacked "drive"; they had no unifying idea running through them, and altogether the direction lacked imagination and ingenuity. "The Iron Road" described a journey from King's Cross to Edinburgh as it would be seen from the engine-driver's cab. The atmosphere of the railway was caught and the film was pleasantly satisfying. "A Message from Canterbury", with the commentary spoken by Archbishop Temple, ended this programme. "The Marx. Brothers Go West" set even the highbrows of the Society rocking with laughter. And instead of sneering in disgust when a train came off the rails, took three wide circuits in open country, and then came chugging back onto the rails again, they laughed even louder.

25 D.J.W.