BRITISH FILMS versus HOLLYWOOD Sut,—British films have seriously curtailed my
visits to the flicks—and for a very good reason. I can no longer sit through standardised Holly- wood concoctions. Up to about a year ago I went to the movies two or three times a month. I always came away vaguely dissatisfied with the fairy-tale world and juvenile dialogue depicted by our neighbours to the south, but up to then there was no other choice ; it was a case of either going to the neighbourhood movie, or staying home and listening to advertising on the radio. Then a miracle occurred. I went to see a film last autumn, and sat spellbound from beginning to end. It had nothing to do with Hollywood. It was not a fairy-tale world, filled with starry-eyed ingénues. It was a beautifully acted, adult drama. It was Brief Encounter. After that, I watched for " J. Arthur Rank presents," or " Produced by Noel Coward," before parting with my 50 cents. As a result, I have saved a number of 50 cent pieces and missed (happily) such items as The Secret Heart and Adventure. Unhappily, however, what British pictures we do receive here are few and far between. Odd Man Out, The Way to the Stars and A Matter of Life and Death did not arrive until last summer. Presumably the reason is faulty distribution, but rather than console myself with such depressing whimsy as It's a Wonderful Life (visited in a weak moment) while waiting for the fault to right itself, I habitually pay return visits to anything we are lucky enough to receive from overseas. It was certainly no hardship to see Great Expectations two or three times. Incidentally, I think Martita Hunt should receive a special award for one of the finest acting jobs of the year in that picture. Dickens would have been entirely satisfied with her superb portrayal of Miss Havisham. I am greatly looking forward to seeing Nicholas Nickleby, but I suppose it will be well into 1950 before it arrives out here.—Faithfully yours, 4216 Dorchester Street, Montreal, Quebec. K. M. JONES.
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