Don’t mention the Nazis!
QUESTION Did the British Board of Film Classification ban the film Pastor Hall in case it upset Hitler?
Many of the BBFC’s records were destroyed by enemy bombing in 1940, but scenario reports for november 1930 to December 1939 survived and give a fascinating insight into the censorship process.
For the entire decade, the suitability of scenarios was judged by just two people: senior script examiner, BBFC vice-president and former World War I veteran Colonel J.C. Hanna, and Miss n. Shortt, daughter of BBFC president Edward Shortt.
Their comments over the years establish them as a rather tetchy retired army officer and a sheltered upper-class spinster — their tastes and attitudes defined by their backgrounds.
The pair showed particular consideration for foreign governments, including nazi Germany. Colonel Hanna revealed his attitude in 1933 when Gaumont British sent in a script for an anti-fascist film called Dark Invasion, about a Jewish doctor in Germany who loses his job and his family as a result of anti-Jewish persecution.
Hanna dismissed the script on the grounds that it was ‘clearly propaganda’ and ‘might foment a disturbance’. ‘We do not consider the subject a desirable one at the present juncture,’ he concludes.
When Gaumont British submitted a synopsis for City Without Jews by austrian anti-nazi writer Hugo Bettauer (who had been murdered for writing it), Hanna reiterated his comment.
a scenario for a film called The Mad Dog In Europe, submitted by writer al Rosen in 1934, about austrian painter and army Corporal Rudolph Mittler who takes over Germany, was banned with the comment: ‘This is pure anti-Hitler propaganda and as such I think unsuitable for production as a film. The names are absurdly disguised with no attempt to disguise the country and main political events.
‘In any case, it will be impossible to disassociate the story from Germany today.’
The BBFC regularly referred any scenario about a foreign power to the relevant embassy for approval. as a result, very few such synopses were submitted, as they clearly had no chance of getting past the censorship process.
By 1939 the case was becoming pressing, but in the spirit of appeasement the censors held firm.
The Boulting Brothers submitted the script of Pastor Hall, based on the play by Ernst Toller, a dramatisation of the persecution of Pastor niemoller by the nazis on July 17, 1939.
Colonel Hanna reported: ‘Its exhibition at the present time would be inexpedient.’
Miss Shortt concurred: ‘I do not consider this play suitable for production as a film. Even with the nationality disguised, it must be evident that the story is anti-nazi propaganda.’
Once war was declared, responsibility for film censorship was shared between the BBFC and the Ministry of Information. Pre-war rules were relaxed and Pastor Hall was rushed into production and released by May 1940.
Henry P. Coleman, London SW14.
QUESTION Were the people who started Alcoholics Anonymous from Britain?
nO, THEy were from the U.S.. In 1935, Bill Wilson, a new york stockbroker and an alcoholic, met an old drinking buddy, Ebby, who had become sober and encouraged him to do the same.
Very shakily, Bill went to akron, a city in Ohio, on business. But the business didn’t go well and, desperate to prevent himself resorting to drink, Wilson phoned a local church from the foyer of his hotel.
His plea for help was well received by the padre, who put him in touch with another alcoholic, Dr Bob Smith.
Identification of their common ailment was instant and they realised that to stay sober, they had to help each other. To save themselves, alcoholics anonymous was born.
This is one of the most important steps in helping alcoholics achieve long-term sobriety. The 12-step programme is used in just about every addiction therapy.
It’s estimated that two million alcoholics have achieved sobriety using this programme and attending the many meetings all over the world. aa came to Britain in 1946. Steve (AA member and sober
since July 15, 2009), Bristol.
QUESTION In the BBC’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Mellors emerges from the trenches sporting a full beard. I thought that the only military man allowed to have a full beard was a farrier. Am I right?
FURTHER to earlier answers, in May 1946, having served since 1944 with the 6th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, I was stationed in the Rhineland town of Dusseldorf.
at short notice we were given orders to prepare to travel by truck to Paris, where we took part in a victory parade down the Champs Elysees, starting from the arc De Triomphe.
accompanying us was the Pioneer Platoon, who were traditionally allowed to have beards, and, of course, the regimental mascot Billy the Goat (pictured below). We marched to the sound of massed civilians on either side applauding until we reached the Place de la Concorde.
after being dismissed, we were approached by the garrison padre, who offered to take us the next morning around the main sights of Paris.
This included a visit to the famous Paris Opera House, where he invited us to step on to the stage (in our hobnailed boots) so that we could later say we had ‘performed’ there.
Jim mason, Swinton, S. Yorks.
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