23 JUNE 1990, Page 24

Sir: The bracing advice given in your leading article (16

June), that the British film industry should eschew subsidy and concentrate on 'themes of heroism' and 'the triumph of idealism over cynicism', raises two interesting questions. Firstly, how is it that many films with exactly the ingredients you urge have proved commer- cially disappointing, while quite often others sadly deficient in these virtues (Kes, A Letter to Brezhnev, My Beautiful Laun- drette) have achieved considerable interna- tional success? Secondly, are we to assume that a reliance on 'happy endings' rather than Government money is also recom- mended for those other notoriously expen- sive industries, opera and ballet?

John Owen

8 Aigburth Drive, Liverpool