4 MARCH 1966, Page 13

'The War Game ' SIR.—I worked with Peter Watkins on Culloden

and The War Game, and saw the latter soon after it was made last year. I should like to assure Mrs. Davy that he is neither sadist nor frustrated artist. although I suppose it might have been ex- pected that he would be misunderstood, having chosen to deal with such unpleasant subjects.

His reason for making these films is exactly the

opposite of what Mrs Davy would have us believe. He has tried to `deglamorise' the concept of war and violence by revealing the truth about it and not pandering to the fantasies which so often accompany its representation on films and television.

Mrs. Davy is as justified in implying that Peter Watkins is a maladjusted rebel or sadist as I should be in imputing unhealthy motives to her for writing such an unpleasant letter: that is to say, not at all. But she should take heart, for it has been reported recently that his next film will be a sort of love-story. Assuming that this is made with his usual sincerity and integrity. I wonder what imputations will

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