28 MARCH 1931, Page 16

POINTS FROM LETTERS

CRUELTY ON THE FILMS.

I should like to protest with all my heart against the inhuman cruelty in the film called Trader Horn now being shown at a West End theatre. It is nauseating to see shown, for the people's amusement, an obviously " trapped " gazelle, torn alive by a lion, shrieking, and struggling, and its poor little carcase fought over, with sound accompaniment, by four or five other lions. It is equally nauseating to watch the death struggles of a lion and to hear its agonising screams with a spear of wood embedded in its head. We all know the jungle is cruel, and that beast preys on beast, but to deliberately show such scenes in order to provide amusement is going to extremes, and I am surprised that the Censor passed such ghastly scenes. In the name of humanity, let us draw the line somewhere at such extreme realism. It is unnecessarily harrowing to animal lovers, and in the case of Trader Horn it spoils an otherwise wonderful film.—M. G. MERCIER, 32 Adolphus Road, Finsbury Park, N. 4.

[We entirely agree with our correspondent. We should like to draw the attention of the various humane societies to the exhibition of these films showing the sufferings of wild animals. We fear the only way to stop their display is by the somewhat slow process of education.—En. Spectator.]