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Films of the Month June 1953

Page history last edited by FilmSociety@gmail.com 7 years, 11 months ago

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: SPECIAL SCREENING


For years among those interested in films in NZ, the name of the film The Blue Angel has been one of those legends.


We are now able to say that we will be screening it at a special screening during July. The film will be shown both at the Library Lecture Hall and the Museum, as usual. The dates are:
Library lecture Hall 5.15 pm July 8th (Wednesday)
Museum Hall 8 pm July 9th (Thursday)


No further notice will be given of the screening of The Blue Angel as there will be no issue of the Bulletin between now and then, and no advertisement will appear in the papers. Members will make no further admission payment for this screening.


ABSOLUTELY NO VISITORS WILL BE ALLOWED AT EITHER SHOWING.


This film, The Blue Angel, was made in Germany in 1930. The date is of course enough to indicate that it comes very early in the history of sound films, and this film is one of the first on the Continent to recover from the period of childish delight and unreal absorbtion which directors everywhere showed when overwhelmed by sound.


It is directed by Josef von Sternberg, and written by Carl Zuckmayer, Karl Vollmoller and Robert Liebmann, and the story is based on Professor Unrat, a novel by Heinrich Mann. The authors (says Experiment in Film) "created a splendid, grotesque, satire, a little exaggerated, yet pitiful and inescapable in its psychology. (Emil) Jannings' performance as the professor was exceptionally moving..." Not mentioned is another person who later became somewhat better known than Jannings on the screens of the world - our audiences may pick this up.

 

In NZ, the history of The Blue Angel is rather interesting. For reasons which are apparently far from clear to those who have seen it after the lapse of years, at its first arrival in this country many years ago, the then Censor refused to issue it a certificate - in short it was "banned". The legislation then as now provided for an appeal to the special Appeal Board set up as a review from the Censor's decisions. An appeal in this case was taken to the Board, which upheld the Censor's verdict.


But since the legislation provided (as it still does) that there is no appeal from the Appeal Board either then or at any time in the future, the film stayed without a certificate and has never been released.


Within the last few years, the NZ Film Institute has moved to have this film released, at least to Film Society audiences. As the question before the Board in its early hearing was the general exhibition of the film, it was felt, perhaps, that a review might be possible.


This has now been done. The legal position is clear:  the Censor at that time did not consider whether the film, if unsuitable for general exhibition, might not be suitable for restricted exhibition to film societies - there were none. The present Censor has therefore been able to issue a restrictive certificate to The Blue Angel allowing it to be screened to film society audiences only.


We wish to adhere strictly to this ruling, and for that reason, no visitors will be admitted to this film.


The Blue Angel

  • Screening Dates: Library July 8th at 5.15 pm (Wed.) Museum July 9th at 8 pm. (thurs)
  • THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER NOTICE GIVEN.
  • MEMBERS WILL BE ADMITTED WITHOUT CHARGE.
  • ABSOLUTELY NO VISITORS WILL BE ADMITTED.

 

 

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